Happy 2017! We're almost to the end…
The characters of The Hunger Games Trilogy do not belong to me.
Fated to Love
Part Two, Part Twenty-Five
"Where the fuck are they?" Johanna stomped over to the group, carrying Mason against her hip and holding the train of her peach dress with her free hand. "They have guests and reporters…and family who has been waiting forever and a day for this to happen!"
"They didn't really say, but I'm sure that they'll be here soon enough," Hani responded, though there was anxiety in her eyes. "They just wanted to stop somewhere."
"It's a hell of a time to decide to go somewhere," Uncle Snow said as he pulled at his bowtie. "This is so not like them."
"You mean the abruptness and penchant to make everyone around them panic?" Prim joined them; she snorted at her family. "That is exactly them." She looked around at the group. "You all look great, by the way."
Haymitch scoffed, next to Hani. "I know I look great."
"You're wearing the same tuxedo from Mason's party," his wife retorted. Johanna eyed him appreciatively, a blush tinting her complexion. "Not like I'm complaining."
"Okay, I need to not be hearing anything gross from my sister-in-law," Hani interrupted, glaring at the two.
"Nor do I need to hear anything inappropriate from my daughter," Snow added. Mason reached for his grandfather and the man took the boy easily, pressing a kiss to his dark locks. "Come, little one. Let's check that diaper before your Uncle Peeta and Cousin Katniss actually get here."
Uncle Snow carried the boy away just as Cato, in his suit and tie, joined the group. "Did he just solve the family tree?"
"Maybe," Prim replied. "What's up?"
"The bride and groom are waiting to come in."
"What the hell!" Johanna yelled, drawing attention to the guests in their seats. "Sorry."
"Well, let's take our places," Hani declared.
Prim nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, before they decide to take off from their own wedding again."
Three Hours Earlier
Katniss stared at herself in the full-length mirror.
She looked like a bride….well, sort of.
For one thing, her dress was considered champagne-colored and the bridal shop owner tried to dissuade her. However, from the moment she zipped up the dress, Katniss knew that it was the one. The gilded embroidery was tasteful and the mesh overlay over the bodice gave her just enough coverage along with the sheer three-quarter sleeves. She adored the tulle skirt and the fullness of it. It hit her just right below her knees.
Katniss understood that she did not look like a typical bride, but she felt a lot more like one now than she did at her first wedding.
To which she told the bridal shop owner.
She could have avoided the scrutiny and made her own dress.
However, they did not want to wait. Neither she nor Peeta wanted the frou-frou wedding. They had considered eloping, but the dog-eared expression on their family's faces was enough for them to consider having one—
—if they could get it together in two weeks.
So, Uncle Snow and her mother had rallied together to get it done.
Those two could rule the world with their organizational skills and savvy.
Now, here Katniss was in her wedding dress.
There was a beep on her phone and she quickly clipped on the fascinator with its gauzy veil atop her head before looking at the text message: I'm outside.
She beamed, checking her make-up before gathering her small purse then blowing a kiss to Toad's portrait.
"Love you, sweetheart."
Katniss hopped down the stairs, putting on the royal blue Manolo Blahniks from Johanna and her Uncle before opening the door.
Leaning back against the small car in his dark tuxedo and brushed-back hair was Peeta.
He grinned, his eyes solely on the woman before him. "Wow."
"That's exactly the reaction I was going for."
Katniss reached for him, pressing a greeting kiss to his mouth.
Peeta gazed at her, adoration in his orbs, as his hand brushed her cheek. "You ready?"
Her fingers intertwined with his and she could feel his thumb moving along her engagement ring—a simple band with a pearl set atop it that they had found at vintage shop just last week.
"Yes."
"I don't think we've ever been on a car ride together," Katniss remarked. "Not like a leisurely one, anyway."
"You know, they're all going to think we've ditched our own wedding—" Peeta responded, his eyes on the road and an amused smile on his lips. "—or, we eloped."
Katniss took his free hand, giving it a squeeze. "At least we know that they can't start without us."
They continued along the winding, empty road surrounded by nothing but green hills and the occasional appearance of livestock. Katniss had never been this far from the city with the exception of Seam Island, which was in the complete opposite direction.
When Peeta had approached her about this impromptu trip before the wedding, she was curious and not worried about what it entailed. Katniss trusted that it wasn't wedding nerves; they had been through that before.
"You look like your head is going to explode," Peeta said, interrupting her thoughts. "Are you panicking?"
"No." She met his eyes, giving him an assuring smile. "I'm just thinking about the wedding; how it's just for us, this time around—not because of some wheat and bakery merger…not because of a baby…it is just you and me."
"You and me," he declared. "I like the sound of that."
"But, I'd love some children, eventually," Katniss added, cheeks burning.
"Would eventually actually be right away?" Peeta asked carefully as he began to slow down. They were approaching a small church atop a hill, pure white with a single bell tower. "Here we are." He parked their car, getting out quickly to open her door for her.
Katniss took his hand as she stood. Her hand reached for the nape of his neck to bring him close.
"You want children, I want children," she whispered against his lips. "We just have to have hope that we get them sooner than later."
Peeta looked into her eyes, his own tender at her declaration. "I love you."
"I love you, too." Katniss gave him a quick kiss. "Now…where are we?"
"We are at the church that I was baptized in and the one where my parents wanted to have their wedding," he explained as they approached the wooden doors. "Unfortunately, their mothers wanted a bigger ceremony which they agreed to."
Pushing open the heavy doors, Peeta let Katniss walk in first before entering the church. The scent of incense filled his nose and he calmed at the fragrance. The church was empty, sunlight filtering through its stained glass window.
"This is beautiful," Katniss breathed out. She walked down the aisle before calling him forward. "I imagine that your parents would've loved a place like this."
Peeta linked their arms as they continued down the aisle. "I imagine that they would have." He felt his lips trembling, the ache of missing his mother and father suddenly hitting him.
"Oh honey." Katniss brought her hand to his cheek. "They must be so proud of you. Not about the money or success, but because you've become the man that you were always meant to be—strong, steady, loving. You've endured so much."
Peeta turned his head, placing a kiss to her palm. "No, we endured." He led her to a small section in the corner where a candle vigil was placed, tea candles sitting in blue glass cups. "I wanted to light a candle for your father and your grandmother because they would've wanted to be at this wedding."
Katniss nodded, tears filling her eyes. "They would've."
Peeta went behind her, arms wrapping around her waist, as Katniss took a lighting stick and brought it to the nearest lit candle to catch its flame.
Katniss picked the two unlit candles right in front of her. "For my father, Avery." She lit the first one. "And, for my grandmother." Then, she lit the second one.
"Katniss, what was your grandmother's name?"
She leaned back against him, letting the warmth of his breath caress her neck. "Poppy."
"Poppy." Peeta smiled into her soft skin. "I love it."
The back of the church led into a small cemetery, ornate marble headstones jutting from the ground, some of them raised due to the bit of forest growing around. Katniss looked around at each name, reading them silently and focusing on their birth years—some going back as far as the 1800's.
Towards the end of the cemetery stood a small bench and, as Katniss approached, she could see that it was newly built in comparison to some of the other areas. It was mahogany and, in the middle of the back rest, a golden plaque gleamed displaying the names of the donors.
She was shocked on finding out who the donors were.
"My parents are in the mausoleum underneath the church. I don't go often." Katniss turned to Peeta, his face laced with sadness. "But, I put this here because I thought that if I ever had the courage to visit and speak, this would be an ideal spot."
Katniss nodded before sitting down and patting the seat next to her for him. He sat down, his eyes distant. "Why is my name on this bench?"
She had to ask. Even more surprising was that it said Peeta and Katniss Mellark.
"Because—" Peeta swallowed harshly before taking her hand. "Look up and straight ahead."
Her eyes traveled over the short brush of trees towards the rolling hill and located a path leading to a singular tree.
Below the tree, Katniss could make out a single headstone.
She looked to Peeta, her throat thick with comprehension. "Is that…his?"
"Yes." Her soon-to-be husband's eyes were wet. "I wanted him to have a nice view."
His tombstone was simply labeled, 'Baby Mellark'.
There was nothing special about the tombstone; it was smooth marble with the date of his all too short life etched into it.
However, her heart ached at the carving at the very bottom of the stone—a Toad.
"It was supposed to keep the evil eye away," she croaked out, her breath coming in short gasps. "It didn't work!"
Peeta wrapped his arms around Katniss to steady her. "I know, sweetheart…I know…" She could feel him trembling against her. "Toad wouldn't want us to be sad. Not today."
"Why did we come here?" she asked tightly.
"Because I didn't have the courage to come alone," he told her. "I never have. I wanted to come to him with only good things and not burden him with all my loneliness when you weren't around."
"And, now?"
Peeta rounded Katniss to face her and his hands went gently to her forearms. "I wanted to show him that we're going to be okay—that he doesn't have to worry about us anymore." He didn't bother to hide the thickness of the tears. "Because I've always felt that, like us, Toad couldn't let go."
"Oh," Katniss whispered in thought. She turned to the headstone, leaning down, and touching its smooth front. "Darling boy, you don't have to worry about us." Looking over her shoulder, she smiled at her fiancé. "Your Daddy and I are going to be fine."
She straightened just as Peeta joined her.
"Your Mom is right, Toad," Peeta said. "We spent so much time depending on you to listen to our feelings, but you need to rest now. It's time for us to start depending on one another, taking care of one another again."
"Like we should have always done," Katniss concluded before turning to Peeta. "I'm sorry that I left you to deal with all of this alone."
"I'm sorry that I didn't come after you." Sighing, he took her hand, his smile tender. "Will you marry me?"
She beamed, a chuckle escaping her lips. "I am marrying you."
"I mean right now," Peeta explained. "We will have the wedding. But, this with Toad, will be just for us." He reached into his jacket pocket, pulling out the velvet box that held their wedding bands, his blue eyes hopeful. "What do you think?"
Katniss reached for the box, opening it to reveal two gold bands. She took Peeta's ring before handing him the box. "I'll go first."
Peeta let out a relieved breath, putting the box back into his jacket, but not before taking her slender ring in his grasp and holding out his other hand to his bride.
Taking his hand in hers, Katniss smiled nervously at him. It seemed surreal to be in this moment. After all that had been said and done, they had found their way to becoming a family
"Peeta, we didn't have the best beginning." He guffawed wetly at her words. "But, we can have the best ending—the happiest ending. We have friendship…passion…love because we worked for it—and I have loved every goddamned minute of it. I promise to keep fighting for us, to never give up, to never keep things inside, to believe in us always." She slipped the thick gold band onto his ring finger. "I choose you, Peeta Mellark, to be my husband." Lifting his hand, Katniss pressed a kiss to the place band. "Until death do us part."
"Oh Katniss…" Peeta reached to wipe the tears rolling down her face. He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "That was beautiful."
"Thanks," she sniffled and met his gaze with a small smile. "Now, your turn!"
Peeta grinned, his jaw aching from the wideness of his smile, but he didn't care. All that mattered was their son, Katniss, and the orange glow of the sunset reflecting in her sparkling eyes.
"You…" He took her hands, raising them to his lips to place a kiss to the tops of her fingers. "Katniss, I've felt pain and hurt…and sadness—maybe too much sadness. But, I've also felt happiness and joy. Most importantly, I've felt love. That's because of you." Peeta lifted her chin so she would meet his eyes. "You've shown me how to live; how to live through the sadness and the joy…because that's what love is, being there through every emotion—good or bad. I promise to be there for every feeling, good, bad, and in-between. To live each day with you, wholly and fully cherished." He slipped the band next to her engagement ring. "Until death do us part."
In the fading light of the sunset, their lips met in a long-awaited kiss sealing their union.
"What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder," Peeta whispered breathlessly against her lips. "My wife."
"My husband." Katniss smiled in their kiss, her hand going to the nape of his neck. "We're late for our wedding."
"We are," Peeta agreed.
They burst into laughter before their lips met once more.
"We're sorry!" Katniss apologized breathlessly as her mother and Prim made sure that she was neat enough.
"I don't want to hear it," Johanna interrupted as she quickly fixed Peeta's bowtie before placing the origami flower that his father once made for Katniss' mother. "This is inexcusable. You know how stressed out I've been trying to coordinate this ceremony for you?"
"And, we appreciate it," Peeta told her. "However, there were some people that we needed to talk to before we did this."
His cousin glared. "Just be glad that we're in church. I can't tell you how I really feel."
"Like that could stop you?" Prim joked, earning a scowl from the woman. "You know what? I'm just going to start off the march." She looked to her sister, placing a kiss on her cheek. "You look beautiful."
"I'll let the band know that we're ready to get started," Hani added. She went to Katniss, kissing her forehead. "I love you." Then, going to Peeta, Hani pressed a kiss to his cheek. "I love you, too."
Finally, it was only three—Johanna, Katniss, and Peeta.
"Really though," Johanna began. "What do you have to say for yourselves?"
Katniss looked to her husband before turning to her cousin. "Thank you for making sure that the chapel was free for the wedding. I've always wanted to get married here. It's where my mother and father got married, you know."
Johanna grinned. "I know." The couple engulfed her in a shared embrace and when they pulled away, they could see her eyes softened with tears. "Well? Get in there!"
Katniss and Peeta stepped through the doorway, entering the chapel as everyone stood up. The procession down the aisle was short and they grinned at their guests, who had all waited patiently for their arrival. At the end of the aisle, Prim stood to Katniss' side as Matron of Honor and Cato to Peeta's as his Best Man.
The priest, who had been with the parish for several years and knew the Everdeens, smiled fondly at the couple as they stopped in front of him.
The music stopped and everyone sat down, waiting eagerly for the ceremony to begin.
"Father," Katniss suddenly said. "We should just skip the vows."
"They've already been done," Peeta added.
They both held up their ring fingers.
"Holy hell," Johanna muttered from somewhere behind them.
The priest, however, smiled patiently before clearing his throat to begin what part he had left of the ceremony.
The newlywed Mr. and Mrs. Mellark sat on the back stairs of the plantation, looking out at the swaying wheat fields. The reception had ended two hours earlier and the rest of the family had gone to their respective rooms.
"I remember coming out here when I found out I was pregnant," Katniss recalled. "This is where I decided to call him Toad." She smiled at her husband. "Thank you for taking me to see him."
"I never went up there until today," Peeta replied. "I just thought that he would be disappointed if I didn't bring you with me. It's why I had the bench placed where it was." He put an arm around her. "What now?"
Katniss stood up, holding her hand out. "Come on."
Peeta complied, standing and taking her hand. They descended the porch and went around to the front of the house before heading down the main road towards the town. A few townspeople waved to the couple as they passed by, offering their congratulations.
"Where are we going?" he finally asked his wife.
They walked along the shore, finally stopping at the row of piers, and stopping in front of a familiar boathouse.
"I thought we'd keep with tradition," Katniss said as she pulled the sliding door open.
Inside, the mattress was already set up, a picnic basket in the corner, and candles softly lighting the room.
Peeta turned to her, a mischievous grin on his lips. "Do you still have the nightgown from that first night?"
She walked inside, before looking over her shoulder. "Who said I'd be wearing a nightgown?"
He rushed inside, sliding the door shut quickly, and locking it behind him.
"I got the biscuits, you get the blues
I'm still the one that's in love with you
This is a life that, we never knew
I'm still the one that's in love with you…"
"How did you think up this song for our first dance?" Peeta asked as they drove along the winding road with Katniss at the wheel.
"I wanted something fun," his wife explained, tendrils of her hair escaping her loose braid. "We've had enough seriousness in our relationship. Plus, I wanted to see you dance!" Katniss looked to him quickly, her dark glasses covering her expression. "Where exactly am I driving?"
"Just listen to the GPS' instructions," he replied. Katniss growled in response. "Enjoy our first official day as a married couple!"
"I am!" she insisted with laugh. "How about you?"
Peeta quickly leaned over to press a kiss to her cheek. "I love being married to you."
Katniss grinned, her stare on the path. "And, why is that?"
"Because I can kiss you anytime I want," he replied smugly.
It was a good thing that her sunglasses hid her flushed cheeks. She distracted herself, focusing on driving and making a turn into the circular road when the GPS narrator instructed.
"Are you surprised?" her husband asked, his smile wide.
"Hell yes," she replied as they parked in front of the marble staircase.
A man in tails rushed to open the car door for her.
"Thank you," Katniss said as she stepped out and looked at the building in front of her.
"Of course." The man smiled brightly as Peeta joined her side. "Mr. and Mrs. Mellark, welcome to the Odair Resort and Spa."
I know that we didn't get to see the wedding or reception, but I think we got to see something much more important.
The next chapter will be our last, taking us into the honeymoon and into the next year of marriage. It will also be a follow-up on the family as well some of our other key characters.
The wedding dress that Katniss wears is on the Modcloth website and called the 'Gilded Grace Lace Dress' in Champagne.
"What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder" comes from the Bible passage Matthew 19:6
Song: "Still The One"-Ingrid Michaelson
We go back to some of the earlier chapters with the wedding taking place in the chapel that many of the important Everdeen events have taken place, as well as back to where Katniss and Peeta first came together for their honeymoon.
Thank you for your feedback and love for this story.
Until the last chapter, JLaLa