Unwanted Vows

White Roses

The reception is over the top and extravagant. It's easy going for everyone, except for Peeta and me. We clutch each other's hands tightly and stay as close as possible. We're going to get through this the way we got through the games, the mentoring, and the nightmares. Together.

"Katniss, Peeeta!" Effie squeals as she runs to embrace us in a hug. "It's time for your first dance, children. Go on now." She says shooing us into the direction of the dance floor.

The music is soft and a romantic kind, but noting about the moment is romantic. His arms encircle my waist, pulling me in closely and my arms are around his neck. Without even planning it we touch foreheads. Mine, looking up at him and his looking down at mine. We dance like this for a while before my neck starts to hurt, and I'm forced to accept just placing my ear on his chest.

I can hear the steady heartbeat that keeps the nightmares away or eases me back to sleep. Suddenly the song is done and he's pulling away from me, but before he does we both – not knowing that the other is – go to kiss one another on the cheek and instead our lips meet in a sweet kiss. I pull away blushing and embarrassed.

More music begins to play, this is typically the dance when the bride and groom dance with their parents. Groom with his mother. Bride with her father. But my father is dead. And just when I think that I'll be sitting this one out, Peeta's dad walks up to me. The baker. His wife has already caught up to Peeta, though I can't help the terror I feel at her proximity to him.

"Katniss," he says to me. I meet his gaze. I never noticed till this moment, but Peeta must have gotten the blueness of his eyes from his father. "Peeta thought you should have someone to dance with too, and since I only have boys, I thought..." he pauses. "Would you allow me the pleasure of this dance?"

"I'd love that." I say softly. He smiles and starts to twirl me around on the dance floor. Peeta's father must have taught him how to dance, because for someone in District 12, his father is a wonderful dance partner.

"Peeta is very sweet, and you should be extremely proud." I can't help but tell his father. I look down sheepishly, ashamed of my statement.

"Thank you." He says with a sincere smile. "I hope you two can find happiness." And I wonder just how much of this situation does he understand. Does he know that I don't love Peeta, or is he caught up in the star crossed lover russ as well?

The dance ends and I go around and dance with many other Capital officials, but I always end up back with Peeta for the in between dances. It becomes such a habit that people have to ask Peeta to cut in.

"You look lovely." Peeta whispers in my ear halfway through a dance.

I blush and look away nodding.

The dance is cut short when Effie appears on stage. "Hello," she says with a thick Capitol accent. "It's time for Katniss and Peeta to do a little wedding ritual." The crowd cheers at what she speaks of, though I know nothing about it. "Katniss will throw her bouquet and Peeta will throw the guarder."

The crowd begins to push me towards the center until I stand alone in front of hundreds of women. I'm handed my bouquet and told to close my eyes while throwing it behind me. The crowd of women count down from three and then I release. I spin around to see a woman with short brown spiky hair and big brown eyes, jump in the air to catch it. Joanna Mason, a hunger games victor.

I'm about the leave when Peeta walks up towards me with a chair. I look at him questionably and he sighs with a sad face. "I was hoping you knew how this worked." He whispers and I shake my head. "The band that's around your leg is the guarder and I....," he begins to trial off and my face burns with a deep blush of what he is insinuating. Determined to not show weakness, I take a seat in the chair and face the line of men that are cheering.

Peeta kneels down in front of me and holds my leg at the ankle, removing my shoe and slowly moving his hand up my leg. I can feel the redness of my cheeks.

"Go Peet!" One of Peeta's brothers yells from the line and Peeta shakes his head.

Peeta locks eyes with me and mouths a sweet sorry, while continuing up my leg. When his hand is at my knee, a chill runs up my spine. Peeta must notice because he quickly grabs the guarder that rests around my thigh and pulls it off. He moves to stand up and throws the guarder as far away as possible, with a man we know very well catching it. Haymitch Abernathy. Haymitch takes another swig of his whiskey and rolls his eyes while tucking the guarder in his pocket.

Everyone is ushered back to their seats and we are served a seven course meal.
When Peeta takes my hand under the table, I give it a squeeze to reassure him. That is until President Snow walks up onto a stage with a microphone and a single white rose. Now Peeta is the one that has to reassure me.

"Such a lovely ceremony and now we get to celebrate with the happy couple." He speaks into the crowd. I don't realize my arm is shaking until Peeta has to hold it still, to keep from attracting stares.

"This is only one major milestone in their life together, hopefully there will be many more in the years to come." He says as he places the mic on the stand. His words might be congratulating but I can hear the threat seeping through.

He expects kids.

But I can't give them, I never will.

"Mrs.Mellark, why don't you come up here." Snow says while motioning for me to join him. My hands begin to tremble once again, except Peeta can't hold onto me for comfort. He stands up and pulls my chair back while giving me a reassuring smile. But even Peeta can't calm my nerves now.

The crowd in the room cheer and smile as I slowly walk towards Snow. He extends his hand out to me as I make my way up the steps, but I'd rather die than except his help. So I straighten myself upwards and climb the stairs, to stand next to him. The ocean of colors and exotic faces blind my vision once again.

Snow motions to an avox behind us, who then pulls on a string. White roses fall from the ceiling landing on the dance floor and the smell fills the room. The floor is covered with the flower and the people run to grab a rose. I turn to face Snow and his dead eyes stare into mine.

"Congratulations, Mrs.Mellark." He tells me while handing me the single rose he held in his hand.