Maybe, Always? (Everlark Fanfic)

Take the Darkness Away: Chapter 1

Chapter 1

I woke up this morning to the sound of birds.

"Mockingjays." I said to myself.

For a second I sat still and listened to them, and it almost made me forget about the terror I had endured last night. Last night I had a nightmare that haunted me even when I woke up.

"Peeta!" I yelled hoping to find him next to me.

He wasn't, He hadn't been since the Quarter Quell. I hadn't even seen him since he planted the primroses by my house. Still I longed for him I longed for the way he made me feel, safe. I never felt like anything could hurt me with Peeta, well besides Peeta himself. I was snapped out of my thoughts to a knock on the door. I groaned as I rolled out of bed, I threw on my robe as I walked down the stairs. I was surprised to find Haymitch at my door, and as an added surprise he was sober. I welcomed him in and he found a seat at my kitchen table.

"How have you been sweetheart." He asks sincerely.

"Like hell." I answered in a miserable tone.

"Well perk up, I got news for you." He said in an excited tone.

"Is it about Peeta." I asked with concern.

"No. Why have you not talked to him recently?" He asked giving me a funny look.

"No." I said "Not since he first returned to 12." I stated.

"Aw sweetheart you miss him." Haymitch said goofy manner.

"Whatever Haymitch." I said brushing the subject of Peeta away. "What's your news?" I asked getting impatient.

"Well I would like to personally invite you to Effie and I's wedding." He finished.

I was so excited I couldn't contain myself. I jumped up and down and hugged Haymitch.

"I haven't seen you this happy in a while sweetheart." he said happily.

He was right I couldn't remember the last time I felt just pure joy. I almost wanted to cry, it felt like this news broke through my darkness. Two of the most important people in my life are getting married and I couldn't be happier.

"When is the wedding." I asked.

"In 3 days, I think Effie will be making you one of her bridesmaids." He finished.

"Really she wants me as a bridesmaid?" I asked touched.

"Really." He said. "She will be by later to get you to go pick out your bridesmaids dress." He finished.

We continued to talk about the wedding for a while. How he proposed, what the colors are, how she reacted, the regular stuff. He told me that ever since Effie moved in he has been sober, he is drunk on love, he tells me and that is way better than what any bottle could do. He hugged me goodbye before he left.

"I love you sweetheart." He whispered in my ear and slipped out the door.

"I love you too." I said as the door closed behind him.

I decided I need a bath before I went dress shopping. I slipped of my clothes and sunk into the bathtub, the bubbles right up to my chin. I hadn't bathed in at least two days and the warm water was refreshing. I got out dried off changed and I heard a knock at my door. I rushed down the stairs to find Effie at my door, but she didn't look like normal Effie. She had wavy brown hair down to her shoulders and minimal makeup on, she looked beautiful.

"Effie, you look beautiful." I said as I opened the door.

"As do you Katniss." She said in her typical Capital accent kissing my cheek.

It was raining when we left to go dress shopping, I didn't mind, but Effie sure did. We had to take the train to District 2 to get our dresses, that was where they were getting made. Although Effie didn't look quite like herself her dresses sure did. I was literally dressed as a giant rose, I hated it but Effie loved it so I sucked it up and smiled through my fitting. After we had our dresses we went home, for the next two days I stared at a wall. I wasn't able to sleep too terrified of what might happen if I close my eyes. Eventually, the two days ended and I made my way to Haymitch's house where I got ready with help from my old prep team. All of Effie's bridesmaids were people who I never met, so I stayed to myself and chatted with my prep team. By two everyone was ready and the room buzzed with excitment. Effie made her way towards me as if she had something important to tell me.

"Katniss." She began. "The groomsman that will be walking you down the aisle is Peeta. I hope that's Ok? She asked her voice filled with concern.

This hit me like a ton of bricks. For a second I felt like I was going to pass out, until I looked up at Effie's face.

"It's fine." I tried as hard as I can to sound reassuring.

She left after that, I tried to compose myself. Peeta did love me once, it's not like he hates me. Thought's like this ran through my head until it was time for the ceramony. My stomach was in knots as I walked down the little hallway into the church. There he was standing in a white tuxedo, all blond hair and muscles. He looked at me and smiled, his crystal eyes looking into my pale grey ones, the same eyes that made my heart melt. And in that moment I wasn't anxious to see him or scared I just felt like that darkness was melted when he looked his eyes into mine. Out of pure excitment I ran to him, expecting it to be like the movies. To my suprise, it was he picked me up and spun me around. I hugged him as if I would never let go.

"I missed you.' He whispered in my ear.

"I missed you more." I whispered back.