Children of The Games

by mrslukecastellan

There were 4 winners of the 74th Hunger Games. Cato, Clove, Katniss, and Peeta. It's been 14 years and they are married with kids. What happens when they meet? I made some story changes. Only read if you've read the books. *STARTED EDITING CHAPTERS TO MAKE THEM GRAMMATICALLY SOUND IN JANUARY 2020 AS A NOW ADULT, BUT FELL OFF THE WAGON. STARTING TO UPDATE AGAIN IN MARCH 2023!*

57. I Do

I am so, so sorry that I have not updating in a while. I really didn't mean to make it be this long. If you read the last "chapter", you'll know I was very concerned that I was not going to have any readers based on some of the reviews I've been getting about how angry people were about me not having a chapter up. I hope that I still have all of you wonderful people here.

Just so you know, this chapter is going to be huge. You may or may not have to break it up into multiple sittings. Because it is going to be very, very, very long, and I am sorry if I cause any headaches, eye pain, or impatience. DO NOT SKIP TO THE END. Because you need to read all of this. It's all very important stuff.

Luke and Liz's wedding is finally here! I hope that you will all love it. You have to promise to review and tell me all about what you think. I need reviews this time, everybody! There's a lot that is able to be commented on, so you should have something to review about. I love reviews! The longer the better. Alright, and now I am done. So...enjoy the chapter. I know I loved writing it.

PS. Don't be afraid to PM me. If you want to tell me what you think in a PM AND a review, that is even better. I love opening my inbox and getting messages. Whether it's thoughts on the story, a question, a quick hello, or just some random thing like "cream cheese spider monkey bagels", I don't mind. PM me. And that last thing, involving the spider monkey and the bagels, would probably get a response like "butter toads and cream of wheat". Or something like that.

PPS. Happy belated birthday to one of my dedicated readers, srkcoolchick!

PP…PS. Check out these authors, because they are amazing:

dhfiction

LetCrimsonFlow

Cashmere67

Luke POV-

I don't know what's scarier- realizing that I am about to be broadcasted on live television to all of Panem on one of the most scary, nerve inducing days of my life-or realizing that today is that scary, nerve inducing day. I mean, I knew I would be getting married to Liz today. Obviously, we were going to get married. I just didn't realize the day would come around so fast. It's almost unreal. I don't know how I got so lucky to be allowed to marry someone as wonderful as Liz is. I don't even think I have the privilege to have met her. God, I love her. So much she's all I can think about.

I know that today is going to be magical. We sent our invitations, and our families and friends will be there. Hell, anyone in the Capitol that wants to come was invited. President Snow said that our wedding was to be televised and public, so anyone could come. Liz will be gorgeous, and I will hopefully look good in my tux, and we'll have fun. There'll be cake and speeches and dancing and bouquet throwing and tons of other wedding things.

It's almost normal.

Normal. I never thought Liz and I would ever have anything to do with the word. I mean...we're Victors of the Hunger Games. Our parents were famous before we were even born. We didn't exactly have the foundation to be normal. But here we are. Having a wedding. And the ceremony might be able to be passed along to the press, and the public, but the reception, and anything happening afterwards, that's for Liz and I and our guests only. Well...the afterwards part would be more private, obviously...it would be disgusting for people to be watching us.

Liz and I made the promise to make love on our honeymoon. That seemed like a pretty long time away to me. It seemed like a good plan. Little did either one of us know that we would be getting married so quickly. I mean...promising to be virgins until your honeymoon is a good idea...but I didn't know I'd be giving not only my status as a semi-single man, being single meaning not being completely and totally in a relationship that is closed, but also giving away my virginity so quickly.

I mean...not that I mind Liz being the one to take my virginity. I wouldn't want any other girl to. I just...it's so fast. Married and losing my virginity at 16. Liz is the same way, at age 15. That can't be easy for her to think about. I mean, I can't be the only one of the two of us that is completely and totally losing time thinking about that. I mean, what if I'm not good?

It doesn't matter if Liz is good, I know she will be. I just don't want to hurt her. I don't know what qualifies as being gentle, and what qualifies as not. I don't know anything having to do with sex, except that it makes girls pregnant if there isn't any protection and precautions taken before doing the deed.

I don't want to put Liz through any pain. If we had a choice, I would one hundred percent try not to get her pregnant. But sadly, I have to make the love of my life a mother at age 16. She'll be 16 when she has this baby. And I will cherish her, and love her, and be hers for the rest of time. But until that baby is born...I can't help but think I'll be guilty.

"Luke?" I hear my father ask, and I look up.

I've been standing in front of the mirror for 15 minutes now, just thinking, standing in my boxers. I'm so nervous I can barely think. I mean, what if today goes horribly wrong, and Liz doesn't say "I do" at the altar? I've seen it happen before. Or worse-what if she just doesn't show up and leaves me at the altar? She wouldn't do that to me, would she? No. Of course not. She would never do that to me. She loves me just as much as I love her. And we are never going to hurt each other or embarrass each other like that.

I turn to face my dad, raising an eyebrow in question.

"Are you alright, son?"

I nod. "I'm fine, dad. Why wouldn't I be?"

He shrugs. "I don't know. I just...you look nervous, bud."

I bite my lip a little. "I am nervous. But it's alright. It's a good kind of nervous."

My mom walks in, not even bothering to knock and make sure I'm wearing clothes first. "There are a lot of people out there." she said. "I don't even want to know how many people will be at the president's mansion."

I nod. "I'm sure there's a lot of people there."

My mom tilts her head. "Peeta, can you give us a second?"

My dad looks at her, confused.

"Peeta. Leave. Just go. You can come back in after a few minutes."

"Katniss, what-" He starts.

"Go see if your family is here." My mother says sternly, and that is the end of it. Once my mother says something, it's practically law. There's no going against my mom when she wants something.

My dad leaves the room, leaving my mom and I alone.

"Are you having second thoughts?" she asks, not missing a beat.

I shake my head. "No. I'm just nervous. But I'll get over it. I want to marry Liz. And today I'm going to do it."

My mom nods. "It's alright if you're having second thoughts. If you don't want to do this, it's fine. You don't have to go through with it."

I just stare at her for a little while. "Mom...you're insane. I love Liz. I want to marry her. And even if I didn't love her and want to marry her, President Snow is making us go through with it. We have to get married, even if we don't want to. And we have to make a baby, and Liz has to be pregnant, and have two kids within two years. And it's not fair and I'm scared and I'm worried I'm going to mess up my vows on live television in front of all of Panem and the people that came to see Liz and I get married."

My mom frowns. "I had the same thoughts. It was a lot easier to do once I got the idea in my head that I was going to be alright. That I was happy, and that it was going to make me feel happy to get married to your father. To watch my friend Clove get married to my friend and the man she loved, Cato. I didn't force myself into something I didn't want to do." Her expression turns to a smile, and she wraps an arm around my neck, steering me toward the edge of the bed in my hotel room.

"I forced my brain to react like the rest of me about it. I made myself confident."

I smile. "I want to be confident. I just want this wedding to be magical. Like you and dad and Clove and Cato always make it sound...well, mostly you and dad. Cato and Clove just talk about the sex afterwards as being the magical part...I just...well...I don't want Liz to want to leave me, ever. And I don't want to seem like a complete and total, stuttering, bumbling idiot up there. I don't want her to have to think that her fiance, and after today, husband, is a loser."

My mom smiles, her eyes laughing even though she isn't. "She's been dating you for a while now. If she thought you were a loser, you and she would not be at this point. I can promise that. She wouldn't have gone on a date with you, she wouldn't have gotten you to volunteer for the Hunger Games with her, she wouldn't have tried so hard to be the perfect little teenage girl, and she wouldn't have defied her parents and their wishes and dated a boy from District 12 if she didn't love you, honey."

I smile. "Really? You think so, mom?"

She nods. "She would have left your loser ass if you were a loser. But you're not a loser. And so she's just with your cute ass."

I can't help it. I start laughing, and suddenly my nerves are gone.

"Mom...did you really trick your brain into being confident like the rest of you?" I ask.

"No," she replies. "Your grandma made me laugh. Now let's go to the mansion so you can start getting all nice and handsome for your wedding."

I pull some old jeans on, and a t-shirt, knowing I won't be wearing them for too long at the mansion before getting changed into my tuxedo and my bow tie, and everything else that goes along with a wedding.

As I pull on my sneakers, I think about how beautiful I am sure Liz is going to be.

As I pull on a sweatshirt, I think about how wonderful it will be to see my friends, and how excited they're probably going to be, being in the Capitol, so different from District 12. Is Meredith going to smirk and stare at the Peacekeepers, thinking of how she's going to be working with them in a few years? I wonder. Is Maya going to jump up and down squealing in a black bridesmaid dress with a blue sash, talking a mile a minute about how pretty she feels? I ask myself. Is Scott going to look me in the eye and ask when we are getting a stripper for my bachelor party? I think.

Probably. They're all going to be here, and I couldn't be happier. My family will be here. And my friends. And I couldn't be happier. I don't need to trick myself into being happy. I already am.

And my mom made me laugh.

I grab a piece of toast and munch on it as I head out the door with my parents. My parents are laughing, eyeing the bread in my hand.

I have no idea why.

My dad is walking on one side of me, my mom on the other.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" My dad asks.

I know for a fact he and my mom were talking about what to tell me if I said no last night.

"I'm sure." I reply, almost automatically.

They both nod, glancing at each other.

"You're my little baby...I just don't want you to have the kind of life I did, thinking I was going to be doomed because I was going to be a teen parent...I don't want you to look at yourself in 10 years, and look down at the little boy or girl running around, and look over to see the person you married is miserable, or that you are miserable, because you got rushed into doing this. Not that I was miserable, or am miserable, but that's an example of what could happen. I want you to be happy." My mom says.

I squeeze her hand. "I'm going to be fine, mom. And I'm going to make sure that I give Liz the best life I can possibly give her. So she will never, ever worry about her being doomed as a teen parent. We're going to make it look so good it'll turn respectable."

My dad squeezes my other hand. "No, Luke. You're never going to let her think she'll be doomed. That's what you have to do to have a really good marriage."

My mom nods her agreement. "That's what your daddy did. And look how happy we are now. Sixteen years together, and never an unfaithful or overly doubting moment."

My dad gives her a weird look, probably because she said overly doubting, but whatever might have made my dad question her is gone as my mom leans in and kisses him gently.

"I love you, bread boy." She says, trying to be inaudible, and failing.

"Love you too, girl on fire."

Liz POV-

My wedding day is starting off to be horrible.

"She's fifteen, Cato! There will be none of that!" My mother screams.

"Clove, it's a tradition!" My father counters.

"She's a teenager, Cato! She is not doing that!" My mom, being the rational one.

"It's a right of passage for couples!" My dad trying to create a defense and a reason for what he originally said.

"I am not letting that boy take anything off of her in front of people...it's bad enough that they are probably going to do things in private." My mom getting worried about me.

I hate it when they're like this.

I didn't get any sleep last night, being so nervous that my mom came in about six hours after I said I was going to sleep with a needle full of drugs to make me sleep. Oh yes. She is not above doing that. And I guess she knew that I was nervous enough that my thoughts would keep me awake, unable to sleep.

I know she cares, but I just can't think straight. I know I want to marry Luke, so what about this is making me so nervous? Being in front of people? I've done that so much it's boring. Messing up? I've practiced my vows so much they have become their own secret language on my lips. People approving? I really don't give a damn what people think. I just don't know what I am freaking out about so much. I can't put my finger on it.

"Liz, are you awake?" My mother asks gently, like she and my dad weren't just screaming their heads off at each other, and like I didn't hear them doing said screaming their heads off at each other.

I groan. "No."

My dad appears magically next to her. "Great. Now get the hell up, sleeping beauty. You have stuff to get to."

My mom clicks her tongue. "And holy shit, you have purple shadows under your eyes. Did you get sleep at all last night?"

I just about jump out of my skin, jumping up and running into the little bathroom attached to my room to look in the mirror. Suddenly, I'm alert. I can't have shadows under my eyes! Those are almost impossible to cover! I need to look perfect! Today is my wedding day, for god's sake!

My mother is a lying bitch. There are no shadows. My face looks just as perfect as it did last night, and I made sure it would look perfect, moisturizing and keeping my skin healthy and acne free for weeks, just so it would look like this now.

I hear snickering behind me and turn slowly, seeing my mother.

"You are such a girl." My dad laughs.

"Yeah, I am one. What's your excuse?" I retort.

My mom starts cracking up. "Ooh, feisty little girl! Careful there, bridezilla, or I will make sure your wedding dress ends up hot pink."

I wrinkle up my nose at her. "Ew. That's disgusting, mom. Don't even joke about that. That's...ew. Just, don't even go there."

She smirks. "Of course not, honey. I was just teasing. You know that, don't you?"

I nod. "I know, but I still am not in the mood for it. I'm nervous enough as it is, mom. I'm worried I'm not going to look good enough. Or be the girl Luke wants to marry. What if all of this was a mistake? What if he doesn't want to marry me?"

My mom puts her hand on my shoulder. "Then you're totally screwed. But I think you'll be fine. You'll get over it like I did, and deal with the fact that the man you wanted to marry is different then the man you're going to be married to. God knows your dad was different when he proposed then he was after we got married."

My dad belches at that moment. "I didn't have any reason to hold back and try to impress." he says.

My mom rolls her eyes. "You see? Men are disgusting, filthy animals. But we, as women, must love them anyway, because together, we make the world go around. And deep down, we love them, no matter how disgusting they are."

She smirks in my dad's general direction, and I wonder what my mom and dad were like as newlyweds. Were they nervous? Did they have doubts? Were they worried about messing everything up? Did they wonder how everything was going to turn out? Did they think that they weren't good enough, inadequate? Did they not know what to expect? Were they worried, and frightened? Or were they confident and snarky like they are now?

My dad comes over and wraps an arm around my mom's shoulders. "And men, as men, are disgusting by nature. But we only have random bursts of it in private. And we only trust those who are the most wonderful and sexy to be allowed to see it all, when in private. So remember, if Luke ever does something gross, it just means he loves you, and is allowing you to see into his inner, most manly depths. It's a beautiful thing."

I smile. "Thanks, daddy. I'm sure that's exactly the case." I look down, thinking about the wedding again. It, without fail, will never allow itself to be ignored for more then thirty seconds before it forces me to start thinking about it again. That is the bad part about this. I don't want to worry. I want to walk out, and look like the perfect bride to be. A vision, a symbol of womanly beauty and grace. Not that I care about looking beautiful in a dress I didn't even get to choose. I don't even care about it.

Alright, fine. That is a complete and total lie. The dress that was chosen was one of the only ones that I liked that didn't make me look cliche, or like a slut. Or hurt...god, I am glad that one dress wasn't chosen. The one that put me into the hospital. I just got out five days ago. And what a blissful five days those were. I mean, take out the worrying and the last minute wedding planning, and they were glorious.

I took for granted how wonderful it was not to be given injections with pain medications every day. And eating normal food. And seeing my friends. I missed all of that so much when I was in the hospital. And my friends were so happy to see me again when I got home. Good old District 2. Everybody loves everybody like a good, happy family.

And if you don't love someone, you hate them so much that the line between your hate and love is invisible, and you practically hate them so much you're putting effort into it, which is the same thing you do when you love someone.

"Liz! Liz!" I hear, and turn, seeing Xavier and Brent running toward me as I am walking to the room where I am getting ready with my prep team and everybody else, already wearing white button down shirts and black dress pants and shoes.

"Wow, girl. You look good. I love the wedding look you've got here." Xavier laughs.

I roll my eyes and flip him the bird. "Shut up. I'm not in the mood, rainbow. I'll ask this once, are you high?"

"Not as far as I know." Brent says.

I turn to him. "And is he going to be?"

Brent shakes his head.

"Good. Because if he gets high at my wedding, I swear, I will jam a stiletto into both of you. In the eye."

Brent nods. "Excellent to know. Thanks for sharing, bridezilla."

"Oh god, why is everyone calling me that today?" I ask.

Xavier shrugs. "It's easy and makes you annoyed. What other reasons do we need?"

I blink. "You shouldn't do that, man! I'm nervous and scared. I don't want to be called bridezilla!"

Brent hugs me. "Shhh. Honey, relax. Go in there. Be good. You're going to do great. OK? We have to go see Luke."

My eyes widen. "Don't tell him I'm freaking out." is my instant response.

Xavier smiles and hugs me. "We won't. Now go in there and get ready. OK? You are going to look hot, I can feel it in my balls."

Brent shoots him a look. "Your balls, honey?"

Xavier nods. "Yeah."

"Don't you mean your head?" Brent asks.

"No, I really don't. She's going to turn me on. And don't correct me, you sexy little man-wich." He leans down and kisses Brent gently.

"Awwwwwwwwww." I can't help it. The two of them are so amazing together. "Get a room, or get married by a hobo or play in traffic. Just walk away." I say. "I need to go, but I'm scared to leave you two."

Xavier pulls away. "The other Victory's are here too. We'll be fine. They're in with Luke."

I nod. "Alright, now leave. You need to leave first...or I'll be tempted to turn around and come back and talk to the two of you, my dear friends."

Brent frowns. "Honey, you're going to be fine. Relax. Don't worry. We're going to leave you alone, alright?"

My expression matches his, I'm sure. "Don't tell anybody I'm freaking out."

Xavier nods. "No, of course no-MRS HIRSCH!"

I smack him, but not before my mom comes out. "What? What's wrong?"

"Take your daughter into the room, please. I'm worried she's going to flee the premises." Xavier replies with a sticky sweet, I'm-sucking-up-to-your-famous-mother-who-I-think-i s-hot-and-has-nice-boobs smile.

My mom rolls her eyes. "Eyes up, boy." she smirks. "I'll take my daughter now. You boys just go off and don't do anything stupid. Or I will not hesitate to slice your limbs off."

Brent nods. "Yes, ma'am."

He takes Xavier's arm and drags him off, even though he's a lot smaller then his boyfriend.

I swear I can hear "She's so hot when she threatens to cut off our limbs.", but my mom takes me into the prep room before I can call down to them and tell Xavier to stop hitting on my mom.

Melody and my prep team are on me in seconds within getting in there.

"Oh my god, are you excited?" Melody asks.

"You're going to look so pretty!" Flo trills.

"And you're going to be so happy when you see your accessories. We picked them out ourselves!" Norlina concludes.

Vilnius pushes them all aside, and Argentina, Tari, and Algeria are right there, flanking him.

"Move out of the way, ladies. You obviously are not seeing that she is freaked out. Aren't you, Elizabeth?"

I can't help but nod. "I'm terrified." I admit.

Algeria and Argentina each take one of my arms and lead me over to a chair.

"Clove, you can go. We'll tell you when you and Cato can come in." Melody promises.

My mom nods and leaves.

Tari smiles. "Alright, sweetie. Clothes off."

I smirk. "How did I know? I knew this would happen."

Algeria shrugs. "We're stylists and prep teams for the Hunger Games. That's just how we go about doing things."

Argentina elbows her. "We have work to do, sister."

Algeria nods and the two of them start waxing. I wince and cringe and groan like I did the first time they did this. I haven't gotten any more used to their methods of working at the same time.

"You'll be thankful for this later." Flo says.

"Oh right. You don't want that boy touching you if you're all hairy." Tari continues.

A blush creeps to my cheeks before I can stop it.

"I'm worried about that part of it." I say quietly.

Vilnius chuckles. "Guys are easy to get along with. Just make sure you make lots of noise."

Argentina smacks him upside the head. "Vilnius! Oh my god!"

Vilnius smirks. "Honey, we all experiment. You mean to tell me you didn't experiment with anyone of your own gender?

Algeria looks down, and I start laughing. "Wow...incest. I would have never guessed."

"I was drunk." Argentina says, which might explain half the things she has ever said to me.

"Whatever." I say.

She starts pulling my hair up, and hard.

"Ow! Now what are you doing?"

"Fixing your hair." Algeria says. "I think." she adds. "God, that looks awful! Let me do the bun, Argentina. You work on her makeup."

Argentina comes around and I sit up a little bit straighter as Algeria works on apparently putting my hair in a sufficient bun and Argentina works on making my face look wedding ready.

Tari and Norlina are painting my nails white, to match my dress, but I see a black polish bottle right next to it. Maybe I'll have some black incorporated.

Like most other times, Vilnius and Melody are over, whispering in the corner.

"What are you two talking about?" I ask.

Vilnius looks up. "I'm trying to figure out what to do about something old."

Melody smiles. "You know that old wedding saying? Something old, something new, something borrowed something blue."

"I've heard of it," I respond. "In passing talk….wait, what do you have figured out for something new, borrowed, and blue?"

Norlina and Flo are smiling.

"We're going to make you look a tiny, tiny bit like a Capitolite. But it'll be really pretty." Norlina says.

"Are you saying looking like a Capitolite isn't pretty?" Flo quips. She always has to say something mean to or about Norlina. I don't think the two of them are ever going to get along.

"No…..o-of course not, Flo. I just…..Liz doesn't like looking like a Capitolite, right?"

I nod. "Very true. Thanks for remembering, Norlina."

She smiles, and the look on Flo's face is all I need to get the confidence as I see the little white gems that are going to be put on my eye, right above my eyelashes. I sit still as they glue each of them down, looking in the mirror when they're gone. They're gorgeous, with a silver white shadow lying underneath them. My eyelashes are quickly coated in black mascara so stunningly dark against the shadow that it works.

As all of the stylists and prep team members hover around me, fixing here, plucking there, wiping and dabbing around, I start to not worry so much. I start feeling like I'm not going to faint. Everything is perfect.

I hear a cough, a really subtle thing, and turn around and suddenly there's my mother, who's looking at me approvingly.

"You look beautiful." She says quietly, putting a hand on her hip. She's wearing a slender, somewhat slinky black dress, probably what the Capitol chose for my bridesmaids to wear. I didn't even pay attention after my dress was revealed; I was so happy that I wasn't going to be wearing something that would make me miserable, honestly.

"Do all the bridesmaids look as pretty as you do, mom?" I ask, smiling. I know my mom likes compliments like that.

She smirks back at me. "Naturally, because I am the sexiest woman on the planet, they do not look quite as good as me…..but I suppose they all look pretty decent. Just not as wonderful as you and me."

I nod. "Alright. Well, I think that sounds alright. I can live with that. How is everyone? Everyone getting along? No crazy fights yet? No shit I'm going to have to resolve later? No drama?"

I pray that she'll say there isn't. Drama is the last thing I need today.

She smiles, and I'm sure she's pondering ways to make me squirm just a tiny bit, freaking out just that little and tiny amount.

"Everyone is fine. Really excited about the wedding. Luke's friends are really nice. Especially that Maya girl. She's pregnant."

My mom, of course, would notice things like that. Not that a pregnant girl would go unnoticed to the rest of the world, but my mother notices that sort of thing above everything else. Most of the time she isn't mean about it, though, so I guess that it really isn't that big of a thing. Just…ranting about my mother, I guess.

"I'll be sure to talk to her about baby tips and stuff, then." What else am I supposed to say to that? I have no idea.

My mom steps up next to me, turning to look at our reflection in the full length mirror. I follow.

"You're so perfect, Liz. You're so beautiful. I love you so much, honey. I never want you to forget that. Not ever."

And I thought my mom was a mean, emotionless troll incapable of complimenting others. I see now that deep down, under all the façade and the act she puts on for everyone, she is just a woman that loves me very much. A woman who can say nice things about herself, but can also say really nice things about other people…and I realize that she's my mom.

Among being a Victor, and a wife, and a previous Career, and a District 2 native, and a teen mom…..she's my mom.

And I couldn't love her more.

"Mom…..I'm not sure I'm ready for this."

She frowns. "Honey, now is not the time to doubt that. You have to be ready to do this. There's no choice."

She holds me as I pretty much collapse into her arms, sniffling and trying not to cry.

"Mom, I'm sorry I'm so weak….I can't do it…..I-I'm not ready to be a wife." I whisper.

She nods. "I wasn't either, sweetie. No girl is ever ready at 15, I'm sure, unless they've known their entire lives that they are going to be somebody's wife at age 15, which most don't. But I got through it…..and Katniss got through it…..and…..and the two of us are happy. Look at the way your daddy and I are….we might tease each other, and threaten murder and bodily damage….but we love each other….so much that we made you…we made you before we were married, we loved each other so much."

She laughs a little there, and I can almost see the memories of my parents in the past forming behind her eyes. "And we always will love each other. Even though I wasn't ready to be a wife at 15, I got through it. And now I am a happy wife, and I feel stupid for ever doubting that I wouldn't be happy."

"Thank you for the story," I say. "But I don't think that's going to help me much. I don't just want to get through it…..and it isn't like I don't love Luke….I love him so much…..I'm just not ready to stand there, in front of all of these people, and pledge that I will always love him, no matter what. To pledge myself until I die…what if something changes? What if I don't want to be the girl I am now in 10 years? In 50? What if I look at myself in the mirror, holding a pregnancy test, and I think, 'I don't want to be this committed. I want to be a teenager.', mom. What if I just get fed up with it and want to quit?"

"Then you will deal with that when you get there. You let me know if you ever want that." A hint of a smile touches her lips. "Because I don't think you'll ever want to leave him. I don't think you'll ever be unhappy. I think that you are going to be a happy wife, and you're going to be an amazing one. You're never going to look at yourself and want to be less committed. You'll love Luke forever, and Luke will love you forever."

I nod, trying to make sense of her words. I'm sure she's right…..but god, I can't admit that to her. I can't stand her when she knows she's right sometimes. But that's something I can tolerate.

My mom grasps my shoulder's tightly, holding me at arm's length. "Darling, you have to be ready. Both of us know you're the stronger one between the two of you. If you aren't ready, he sure as hell isn't going to be. And we need that boy to be ready, Elizabeth, or you'll have the most awkward marriage in the world. And I didn't raise a girl to be awkward around her husband. Which means you need to be ready. So…make yourself ready. You have a little while."

I nod. "Fine, mom. I'll pretend I'm entirely, completely ready to be a wife before I'm even 16. And getting married in general. It's going to be super fun."

My mom pats my cheek a little too hard for my liking. "Ha ha. Yeah, shut up. You're way, way too perky right now. So…..I've changed my mind. Depress yourself a tiny, tiny smidge of a bit. Please. Just enough so I don't have to see you so damn perky. It's nauseating, even if you are my daughter."

I smile. "Relax, mom. I will stop being so perky if you keep yourself somewhat sober. And dad too. I don't want to have to drag your drunk asses home with me. I would prefer to have my honeymoon without having to worry about my dear, sweet, parents being impaired and in trouble."

My mom smirks. "I make no guarantees about your father, but I can keep myself alright enough so you won't get embarrassed by me."

I sit down in a chair. "That's just awesome, mom. I'm a bit worried about the vows. I don't want to make a fool out of myself. I have a reputation to uphold."

"Those words are not only super true, you do have a reputation that you absolutely have to uphold, but they are also the words I have hoped you would say for a very long time. They're the words I told your father the night we….well, created you. In the Arena…..good times. Although then, they were a bit more teasing and a lot less serious. Yours better be serious."

Besides almost gagging, I'm pretty happy that I am more like my mother than I thought I was. And that's not something I can say every day.

In other words, I'm pleased.

"Be happy, Liz. At least you know you love Luke, and only him. Be thankful you fell in love with one guy."

I know that wasn't my mom. I turn around, and there's Katniss, wearing the same black dress my mom is wearing. Her hair is down for once, curly and free. She looks good.

"At 15, I didn't even know if it was Peeta that I wanted." She says. "I loved him, I knew…..but….well, you've seen Gale….he's Gale….and he was my best friend, and I thought I loved him as much as I loved Peeta. Maybe even more than that. And I got the same order from Snow you got….I was scared, and I hated the president, and hated the Capitol and hated everything about both, just like I do now, but less so…where was I? Oh right. And I didn't want to be tied down to Peeta if I really didn't love him as much as I thought. If I loved Gale more than Peeta. But I worked it out. I got myself straightened out…..and Peeta's the best man I could ever ask for. I wouldn't marry anyone else if I got the chance."

Her story brings a smile to my face. It makes me emotional. Both her story and my mom's did.

All I can mutter is "Ew. How the hell did you love Gale?"

My mom laughs and squeezes me around the shoulders. "Honey…..you didn't see Gale 15 years ago….he was hotter than Finnick Odair."

"Finnick? No…..well….yeah, probably. Finnick's older then us anyway, Clove." Katniss laughs.

It's weird seeing the two of them bond. Especially over discussing Finnick Odair's hotness over their husband.

"Hey, he's Finnick Odair. He's hotter than most people…..and I don't think Gale's hot at all." (A/N: I ADORE GALE! NOBODY HATE ME FOR THAT! Remember, Gale is like…..30, and Liz wouldn't find him hot. I do, though.)

"Oh, Liz. Let me tell you all about it." Katniss laughs.

And then she spirals off into a story only girl talk could produce.

Luke POV-

As of 15 minutes ago, I was ready for this wedding. I was excited, shocked even, at the actions I'm about to go through with. Now…I'm slightly angry to go along with it.

Let me explain.

Remember how Snow had a tribute army that kind of followed Liz and I everywhere, wherever we went? Ha ha. Of course you do. It's hard not to remember that. Especially because he still has that army. And he has to make Liz and I really worried about it all the time with who he brings back.

And who he brought back today might kill Liz. Possibly literally.

I was trying to tie my tie, and I wasn't paying a whole lot of attention. I was thinking about my vows. I don't want to mess up, because that would suck.

"That's adorable. Little boy can't even tie his own neck tie. That's so sad."

I know I've heard that low, condescending voice before.

"Um…..Marcus?"

I turn slowly, hoping that I am not right.

Sadly, Marcus is standing behind me, arms crossed over his chest.

"Liz is mine, little boy. And she always will be."

I roll my eyes. "She's marrying me today, if you didn't notice yet. She's my girlfriend, and in a matter of hours, I'll have her as my wife."

I can't help the smirk that comes to my lips.

"Luke, you sure you want to do this?" he asks, with an airy, mocking tone, like he thinks I'm incapable of marrying Liz.

I look over at him. "Why the hell would I not? I love Liz. I'm going to marry her, whether you like it or not! I don't care if you love her too!"

He rolls his brown eyes at me. "You can never, ever be what she wants. Liz is a fiery, free woman! Do you really think she wants to marry you? Over me? The poor girl is probably being brainwashed by the pity she has for you. It's overpowering her judgment."

When Marcus died, he and Liz had a truce. But I know she didn't want to be with him. She doesn't want to marry him. She wants to marry me. Obviously. I mean, why else would she have said yes?

"Yeah. I really do. It's obvious for anyone who has a brain, Marcus. She's a smart girl. I mean, she chose me over you before. She's going to do it again today. And I know that tears you apart, not getting what you want for once."

I smirk at him, channeling my inner Cato. "But honestly, Marcus….I don't give a shit about who you are. She's mine now. And I'm hers."

He's only shocked for a moment before he regains his composure, but the damage was done. I still shocked him for a moment.

"Mark my words. I will steal Elizabeth Hirsch from you. And she'll be screaming my name every night. Your name will be gone from her mind soon enough, the filthy scum that it is."

I try to think of something smart to say.

"Well Marcus….good luck with that. At least I don't need her drunk and in pain to say my name." I step a bit closer to him. "Luke. And what's your name, you soulless, heartless, abusive, manipulative, boorish, uncoordinated, unloved, barbaric son of a bitch?"

I walk away really fast, before he has time to register all the insults I just called him all at once. I have no idea where that came from. I wish I could see what his face looks like as I walk out of there, but it works so much better when he doesn't have the ability to say something to me, so I can't wait for his reaction, or his response. Not that it would be easy for him to say something back to me right now after what I just said.

I, Luke Mellark, won against the guy from District 2. Me. The so called scum from District 12.

Liz would be proud.

Liz POV-

"What do you mean he's back?!" I yell.

My dad is sitting next to me, face in his hands.

"Snow brought him back. The same way he brought back Miklisho, Silke, Alice, Maryann, and Michael.

I nod. "Alright…..um…..I can handle that. I'll figure this out. I….I just can't let it get to me."

My dad holds me close, his nose inches away from mine. "Are you alright?" he asks.

I nod, but then I shake my head, sniffling. Wow. I've almost cried on both of my parents today. "I'm so nervous! What am I supposed to do, leave? I can't leave. But god, I've never been so nervous in my life. And then there's the new addition to Snow's tribute army…..damn damn damn damn damn. What am I going to do? I….I can't go through with this."

My dad frowns, taking my hand. "Sweetie, you can do anything. I know you, Lizzie. And this nervous, scared girl is not you."

I blink. "I don't know what is."

"I know, love. But you are amazing. You're going to be an amazing wife, and an amazing mother. You shouldn't let anyone get you down, sweetie. Because you're incredible. You're not a girl who can go down without a fight. Show that evil president that you are going to make him regret trying to force you into this marriage. Show him you want to be in that marriage, and that you are happy he's paying for the entire glamorous thing."

I smirk, and he smirks back, sharing a grand, father/daughter moment.

"You're the best dad in the world." I say.

He wraps an arm around my shoulders. "I know. No need to remind me, honey. I've been the best dad ever for the past 13 years."

I raise an eyebrow. "And the first two years of my life?"

"I didn't know what the hell I was doing! Do I look like the perfect dad? I might be the best dad, but I am definitely not the perfect one."

"I understand, dad. You're awesome."

He takes my hands. "Let's get you down that aisle, shall we?"

I nod. "Let's go to church."

Luke POV-

"Dude, relax. You're fine. You're getting married today to a hot girl from District 2 that you are crazy about. You're fine. You're going to be awesome out there."

I'm with Scott, at the end of the aisle in the church, and in about 15 minutes, Liz is going to be walking down that aisle, standing right there across from me. I'll finally get to see her wedding dress. And see how beautiful she is. I'll remember today forever. Not because Marcus is back and I told him off….though that will be there as well. Not because my friends are all here…but that contributes…..but because Elizabeth Hirsch is becoming my wife for the rest of forever.

I couldn't be more happy if I tried.

Scott smiles. "Dude, this is epic. You're going to be a husband. I can't believe you're going to be a husband before me, man. That's so weird. Why you? You're so lucky!"

I chuckle. "It's not like it's going to be a perfect marriage. It's not at all like that. President Snow is making us do some pretty awful things…Liz has to be pregnant soon…"

He shrugs. "You get used to it. Maya was a bitch at first. Now she's back to normal. She's gotten used to it as much as I have. And that's something I can't really say is a downside."

I nod. "What if something goes wrong? What if I'm not able to be a good dad?"

Scott smirks. "Then at least you'll have me to ask for advice." He switches to smiling. "You know Maya and I are here for you. And Liz too. She's welcome to the baby mom advice Maya can give, and I'll help you like you're my brother. You know that though."

I know it's not the manly thing to do, but I hug my best friend tightly. "Thank you, man. I….I'm really happy you're here."

"Alright, alright, let go of me, man. I see Meredith peeking out the can only mean one thing." He says.

"Yeah. It's time for me to get married."

Cato POV-

I can't stand this. I adore my daughter, in every single way imaginable, but I can't stand seeing her so angelic. She's a vision of white, and I can't lie and say I'm just flattering her. She's a beautiful young woman, and she always has been, and now, as I look at her, I see everything that she is going to become. I can see her years from now, happy as ever because she's just seen her child walk for their first time on their own. Or in a decade, when Luke surprises her with some super sweet, romantic gesture to celebrate their 10 year anniversary. I just….I want her to be happy always. And I want her to be my little girl forever.

She can't quite be my little girl anymore when I'm walking her down the aisle and giving her hand away to the boy that is going to take her away from me. God, I hate that boy. And yet I love him, considering my daughter loves him so much. There's such a thin line between the two emotions that I can't quite be sure about it.

"Dad?" Liz asks. "Can you let go of my hand?"

We're standing in the back room, the only thing separating us from the crowd of people who came to the church being a big, mahogany door. I focus on the glistening of the wood to keep myself from crying.

"Yeah." I murmur, releasing her hand so slowly I can feel the sweat on my hand gradually not sticking to her non sweaty hand.

"Sorry abut that." I whisper. I hate myself for how weak and low my voice comes out.

Liz looks at me, her eyes wide, her head tilted slightly to the side. "Daddy…I know, and you know, that I'm going to end up alright. You know I'll be fine, don't you?"

I smile and kiss her forehead. "I know that you are going to be amazingly fine, Lizzie," I sigh. "I just don't want to have to let you go."

"You won't," Liz whispers. "You just have to let Luke have some access too."

Finnick POV-

Oh weddings. God, I love weddings. They are the start of a new stage of life for two people. A man and a woman bonded together with two of the easiest words to say in the entire world. "I do", and suddenly there they are, husband and wife. Or husband and husband, or wife and wife for that matter. You can do whatever the hell you want here. You've got to love Panem.

I am really excited for Liz and Luke's wedding. I've met Liz, and I adore her parents to death, and I love Katniss and Peeta as well, even though I haven't met their son, and I'm just really happy to get to see their wedding. I even got an invitation so I didn't have to crash. I would have if I had to though.

It got me off work, too. So I got to bring Annie as my date, instead of some random Capitol woman, which made her super ecstatic. I suppose someone did their research, because my invitation was addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Finnick Odair, and Annie was freaking out because she never gets invited to the parties I do, least of all under the same name as me. Our daughter Ariel was invited as well, but Annie and I figured we should leave her home tonight. We don't know how late we'll be out or what could happen after, so it's better to just be safe with our planning.

The wedding music starts and there are a number of girls in black dresses with blue sashes coming out. Some I recognize. Some I don't. But then again, there are too many girls in the world to recognize all of them. I see Clove, and Katniss, and Primrose (oh my god, she looks gorgeous! When is the last time I saw Primrose Everdeen?), as well as a few younger looking girls, probably Liz or Luke's friends. At the front of the procession is a girl with curly blonde hair, and her dress is different from the other dresses, being a little shorter, with different straps, and a pink sash. Liz's maid of honor, I'm guessing.

"Katniss was telling me that her name is Tina." Annie whispers in my ear, probably seeing my eyes go to her. I squeeze her hand, just in case she's having any doubts that I love her. Annie's fragile like that.

Looking up towards the front of the church, Luke has a number of groomsmen as well. I see Peeta, and some boys I'm pretty sure are Peeta's brothers, and there's that one guy just grinning like a fool, one hand on Luke's shoulder. I'll bet my secrets that is Luke's best friend. He looks young enough. And beside him, there are other teenage looking boys that are probably friends of Luke's or Liz's. There are 5 other guys all standing around smirking, and I figure those guys are most definitely from Liz's district. Boys from 12 don't smirk like that. They don't have too much to be smirking at there, with no offense to them. District 12 is a lovely place, in my opinion. Just…they are different then people in District 2.

Behind the bridesmaids, a little boy comes out, maybe…10 or 11 at the most, and he's carrying a small black velvet covered pillow, something faintly sparkling on it. The rings. He goes over to the boy that's got his hand on Luke's shoulder, hugging his legs, so I'm guessing their brothers.

Oh, god. That's so sweet. I remember my own wedding. It was the happiest day of my life, and I hope that Luke and Liz have the same happy day that Annie and I had. They seem like good enough kids, and with parents like theirs, they deserve their own independent happiness.

The lives they have aside from their parent's starts today. I wish them the best of luck. Having a marriage can be difficult when you're a grown adult. I can't imagine what they'll have to learn and figure out to be good at a marriage when they're teenagers.

Cato POV-

"Don't let me fall, dad." Liz whispers to me.

I turn and face her, my hands on her hips, looking into her eyes.

"Never. You're so beautiful, Liz." I respond.

"Now don't start crying on me."

I lift the veil carefully, being gentle so I don't ruin the elaborate…..whatever her stylists did to her hair, and settle her veil over her face, straightening it out on her shoulders and making sure it falls straight down her back, remembering when I was changing her diapers and fixing her shirt and making the princess tiara on her head straight, when she played princess. Now she is a princess, all by herself.

"Beautiful." I conclude.

"You are extravagant."

Finnick POV-

Suddenly, the music changes. I'm so locked in my own thoughts that Annie has to shove me so I'd remember to stand like everyone else.

Liz walks out, looking like an absolute vision on Cato's arm. Her veil hides her face, so I can't tell what she looks like under it, but the dress she's wearing looks so beautiful, sparkling as it catches the lights in the church. The veil is shorter in the front, lying on her shoulders delicately, and in the back it's down to the middle of her back.

"She looks amazing." Annie whispers.

"That dress….oh my god, who the hell knew the Capitol had taste in anything?" Enobaria pipes up from behind me.

"She looks hot as hell." Gloss comments.

"Gloss, shut up." Cashmere hisses.

Gloss smirks like the idiot he is. "Sorry. Oh my god, she's near Luke!" he whisper shouts, and suddenly we're all looking back up near the altar.

Cato takes Liz's hand and kisses it softly, then offers it to Luke, who takes her hand. Cato lifts the veil from his daughter's face, laying it back over her head, but the way it's worked, it's still possible to see her hair. It's like the bottom of the veil was pinned under the elaborate coils and curls and workings of her hair….which it probably was. God, I'm such a guy. I should just stop trying to understand things.

Now that I can see Liz's face, I can see that she is practically glowing. She looks incredible. The dress and the veil make her look like a swan. Graceful, majestic, and extremely lovely.

Annie leans her head on my shoulder as the ceremony begins.

"Ladies and gentleman, we are gathered here today to witness the holy matrimony between a young man and woman who wish to bond themselves together as one, for all time," the pastor starts.

"Is there anyone who has any objection to these two young people being married?"

My eyes immediately flicker to Cato and Clove. If anyone is going to have an objection to Liz and Luke's marriage, it'll be one of them.

Shockingly, neither one of them stands.

"If anyone has an objection, speak now or forever hold your peace." The pastor continues.

I'm still watching Cato and Clove.

"I do!" I hear, and turn, like half the church does.

Marcus POV-

I thought standing up and having an objection would be a good thing. I figured President Snow had a good reason for telling me to stand up in a church full of people and say I didn't approve of the marriage, and to make me make the wedding stop.

Little did I know every person in that church, including Liz and Luke, would be staring me down while glaring daggers.

"I…..I have an objection." I say, trying to keep myself brave.

"Boy, do not mess this up. Exactly like you practiced. Exactly like I told you."

I hear President Snow in my earpiece and know that I need to just go along with it. Just speak my heart, like I feel, and maybe I can delay this wedding.

"Elizabeth Hirsch deserves better then Luke Mellark. And since I was eight, I have intended to one day be that person that she deserves."

I can clearly see Clove, Cato, Peeta, and Katniss staring at me like I'm insane.

"Marcus, sit down." I see Enobaria, and my face instantly pales. Enobaria was one of my trainers.

"You have no right to be here, telling Luke that he doesn't deserve Liz." Xavier says, from next to Luke, up at the altar. Damn, I hate that asshole.

"They're old enough to make their own choices." Tina pipes up, from next to Liz. That whore.

"It's not your decision whether or not she gets married to Luke or you. It's her own decision. And she can marry whoever she likes."

This time, it's my mother speaking.

I didn't even know my mother was here in the Capitol, let alone that she was going to be at the wedding. And she wasn't supposed to know that I was alive either. But I suppose that everyone will know.

And then I remember that this wedding is live. On television. And I realize what a fool I am making of myself. I don't want to make a fool of myself on live television. That's not who Marcus Shay is. I refuse to be made a fool.

"Boy, don't mess this up." Snow hisses. "You have a job to do. Now do it."

I gulp, and finally just rip the earpiece out of my ear. I don't feel like listening to Snow talk to me anymore. Not until I get back to where all the other previous tributes are.

"I…..I'm sorry. I think my love for Liz blinded me when I was younger…..and it still blinds me now…..I shouldn't come in here and break up a wedding that is so clearly meant to be…Liz….Luke…I hope the two of you are very happy together…..if I can't be with you, Liz…then I'm glad you deem Luke a good enough man to be deserving of you."

I even smile a little, just to make it seem like I am truly happy, instead of ready to pound the hell out of Luke.

How dare he take my woman from me! I had her first! I had her before he even showed up in her life, and she wanted nothing to do with him! She wanted everything to do with me. She is mine. And she will always be mine.

Luke's an ass to believe that he could be anything else besides a boy toy. Not that Liz would play with him…..but in time, it will be like she will. She's going to love me so, so much. And I can't wait until she does.

I get up and leave the church before anyone else can say anything. I figure it's easier that way.

Snow's Peacekeepers are there to collect me, just like they were there to bring me to the church.

I don't even want to know what kind of punishment I am going to get for failing him….I just hope he won't kill me again.

I am ushered into a limo and told that I will need to speak to the president when I arrive back in the complex. This, I expected. I wouldn't expect to just get sent back to my room and welcomed back happily like if I had done what I was supposed to do. But I am still worried about the fact that I failed. President Snow is definitely not going to be happy about me failing. He gave me orders, and not only did I not succeed…..I defied him. I told everyone I was in love with Liz, which I am…..but I also told them how I was happy for them. How I was happy for them. Which I am not. And which President Snow is not. He wants Liz with Miklisho, which is even more disgusting then her being with Luke.

He's scum. He's nothing better than a drugged out, horrible rat, and I can't believe that President Snow wants her to be with him. Over Luke, which….alright, Luke is only like a level above him…..but above me….? It's downright detestable.

"Marcus." I hear, and turn around.

Alice comes toward me, hugging me, looking pitiful. She has one black eye, and her hair is red in some places. One of Snow's people must have gotten to her again. Poor girl. They want to get at Miklisho. I hope it worked. That boy needs to take better care of his girlfriend. Oh my god, I would be such a better boyfriend to her then he is.

"Alice, what are you doing? Why aren't you with Miklisho? Isn't it the time of the day when you're able to be with him?"

She nods, looking down. "But President Snow took it away. He says we can't see each other anymore." She starts crying.

I wrap my arms around her. "Shhh. Honey, don't cry. It's ok, it'll all be ok."

She shakes her head. "President Snow is going to kill him next week." She whispers.

"He says he needs to make an example of him…..he says someone isn't doing what they're supposed to, so he has to make an example and kill one of us. He's choosing to kill Miklisho. I'm so scared, Marcus. I'm so confused. We're all doing what we're supposed to. Why does President Snow want to kill Miklisho? Why does he want to make him an example? We're doing everything right. Everything is fine. We're all doing what he's asking us to do."

I gulp. "Yeah, Alice. It'll be alright…we're all going to be ok. Miklisho is going to be ok. We're all doing what we're supposed to be doing."

I can't tell her the truth right now. It would hurt her too badly.

Katniss POV-

I loved being in Liz's ceremony. It's been a few years since I've been a bridesmaid. Probably the last time was in my sister's wedding, when she got married to Gale's brother, Rory (now that was an adorable wedding to be at). I missed it, somewhat. And there were lots of bridesmaids there. There was me, and Clove, and Luke's friends Meredith and Maya, and Prim, and the maid of honor was a girl named Tina, who Clove told me is one of Liz's best friends that's a girl.

I saw the groomsmen as well. There was Peeta and Cato, Scott, Austin, Daniel, Rory(the one married to my sister, in case you forgot; still in denial that my little sister is married), the members of the club Liz is in, I think they're called Team Victory, and Peeta's brothers Nick and Ryen. They were all adorable as usual in their tuxes. Peeta and I might need to…have a talk later.

"Luke, repeat after me." The pastor says.

I watch my little boy straighten up a little bit taller.

"I, Luke Mellark….." the pastor starts.

"I, Luke Mellark," Luke repeats.

"Take you, Elizabeth Hirsch, to be my lawfully wedded wife…"

"Take you, Elizabeth Hirsch, to be my lawfully wedded wife,"

"To have and to hold…"

"To have and to hold,"

"From this day forward..."

"From this day forward,"

"For better or for worse…"

"For better or for worse,"

"For richer or for poorer…"

"For richer or for poorer,

"In sickness and in health…"

"In sickness and in health,"

"Until death do us part…."

"Until death do us part." Luke finishes, smiling at Liz.

Liz smiles back at him as the pastor makes her say the same vows.

"Then now, by the power vested in me, by the great country of Panem, pronounce you, husband and wife."

Luke and Liz move a step closer to each other, holding hands.

"You may now kiss the bride."

Luke leans in and kisses Liz, and you can practically feel the passion from three rows back, from where I'm sitting.

Clove, shockingly, is in tears. Cato comes down from Luke's side of the aisle, holding her to him, smirking like a proud father. Peeta follows and comes over to me.

He takes my hand, and I offer him a tissue. He takes it, but neither one of us start crying. That will be later, when we're making our speeches.

I lean in and kiss him.

"Remember when that was us?" I whisper.

He nods. "I remember it like it was yesterday." He kisses me again.

I pull back, my nose touching Peeta's. Over his shoulder I see Cato and Clove kissing like they remember getting married too.

"Don't look now, but the Hirsch parents are getting it on." I laugh.

Peeta smiles and takes my cheek in his hand. "Why don't we take a page from their book for once?" he asks, kissing me again.

By then, Luke and Liz are heading up the aisle. Both of them are laughing, Liz looking at Cato and Clove, Luke looking at Peeta and I. They laugh, still holding hands, and I just look at my son, looking so happy to be married.

And the two of them were nervous.

They look anything but nervous now.

So, boys and girls, there is the chapter you have all so eagerly been waiting for. I'm sorry I didn't put the reception into this chapter. I figured that would make it longer than any of you wanted, and it would require a longer wait, and I didn't want to make any of you hate me anymore. Please, review, and let me know what you think. I love knowing what you think. Thanks for reading!