Waves Breaking Over Rocks Part 2

Chapter 24

Finnick

"Don't be so nervous, Finnick! You're going to do fine!" Louis unsuccessfully tries to reassure me as he puts the finishing touches on my outfit. I'm wearing one of Peeta's old suits from his Victory Tour. It's gray, with a green tie and details. I'm feeling the same nervousness as the day I proposed to Annie. Maybe more. What if I mess up? What if I'm not good enough? My head is full of a million thoughts like those. At the same time I'm happy. I'm finally going to marry her. But it just seems too good to last.

"Sorry, it's just... Annie. She's wonderful. I don't think I'll be good enough." I tell Louis as he styles my hair.

"Don't worry! You're the most handsome guy in Panem!"

"Handsome is not what I'm worried about."

"There! You're done!" He says, circling me. "You look dashing!"

I look in the mirror. I do look dashing. The tie matches my eyes and the gray makes my hair stand out, not that it needs help, thanks to Louis's magnificent styling.

"Thanks, Louis." I say.

Today I'm going to allow myself freedom of expression. I'm no longer going to hide what I think, not even with my face. I want it to be clear as day how much I love my Annie, and how much she loves me back.

I walk to the huge room where they're going to host the wedding. I'm quick to notice the cameras everywhere, courtesy of Heavensbee, who will broadcast this to the world. The decorations are not of highest quality, but I wouldn't have had it any other way.

Up on the altar is Dalton, a man from District 10 who will be conducting the ceremony. He is holding the net that Annie and I will put over our shoulders, a wedding tradition from our District. On one side I see the kids from 13 getting ready to sing the traditional wedding song. It speaks of true love and the sea and the voyage that is two people falling in love and the storms and calm waves we've had to go through to get to where we are.

"Ten minutes! Where the hell is the groom?!" I hear Heavensbee yell from the entrance. I rush over to him. "We have to get the people in here now!" He tells me, even though it's not my job to worry about that.

"Come on, boy." Dalton says, taking my arm gently and leading me to the altar. The doors open and people flood in. My face automatically goes hard and I have to concentrate to let it go and show my emotion. Which, right now, happens to be nervousness.

The two minutes pass all too quickly, until the people finally quiet. I repeat my vows over and over in my head as I did yesterday in front of the mirror. But the moment the doors open, I completely forget about them.

Annie walks in, her face lit up like a lamp, radiating love off like light. Her eyes don't look like the sea, they are the sea, the skirt of her dress being the waves that move at her will. Her red hair is vibrant as fire and her freckles stand out sweetly, her eyes shining. But it's her smile that completely takes me away. It is bright as the Sun. And, in that moment, as she walks to me, Annie becomes everything. She is the light I wake up to in the morning and the darkness that envelops me in my sleep. She is the summer breeze and the warm blankets in the winter. She is the sugarcubes in my coffee. She is the sea and the sand and the Sun and the Moon. Annie is my love. Annie is my life.

Images flash before my eyes, images of underwater kisses over coral reefs, of the morning coffee, of the little cabin by the sea, of what the word 'home' has come to mean. Because home is no longer my mansion, or the Village, or my District. Home is her arms, now and forever.

She can't get to the altar soon enough. All I want to do right now is sweep her off her feet and kiss her endlessly. When she finally gets here, I take her in, searing her hair and face and eyes and smile in my memory forever, willing them to be the last things I ever see.

I end up getting so lost in Annie's smile that I hardly listen to most of her vows.

"...In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, I promise to love and cherish you each day." My stomach drops to my feet when I realize she's finished and it's my turn. I shouldn't be worried, I think. Yet I somehow couldn't shake off the feeling.

"And I, Finnick Odair, take you, Annie Cresta, as my wife from this day forth. Together or apart, we will always be united. One life. One purpose. One destiny." We then proceed to put on out net. It is a tradition that symbolizes unity and love in our District. Annie had wanted to use her mother and father's net, but it is back in 4.

"You may kiss the bride." Dalton says. I can't stop the little smile that my lips form before joining hers. We're married. We can be together now. We're free from the Capitol.

It just seems too good to last.

But I won't worry about that for now. The only thing that I should do tonight is enjoy myself and cherish Annie.

We had longed for freedom, for recognition of how much we loved each other, that we danced until our feet hurt. And, in that moment, with people dancing around us and Annie laughing, I just let myself hope.

After long hours of dancing, Heavensbee announces that there will be a surprise. He and I had planned this for weeks. It is a gift, a surprise for Annie. It's the only one of my secrets I don't feel bad about hiding from Annie. My smile fades as I remember the other secret. Don't think about that. Tonight is for Annie and you.

The doors then open and everyone gasps. There, as promised, is a beautiful, giant, wedding cake. Annie's eyes go wide, her hands covering her mouth.

"You didn't..." She whispers, turning to look at me. I wink and she squeals in excitement. "Finnick! Oh my-!" I take a moment to admire the cake, courtesy of Peeta, before someone cuts out a slice and gives it to Annie. His careful hands managed to create our beautiful sea-themed cake. I'm so thankful to him.

Annie moves to grab a spoon, but I beat her to it, taking a piece of the cake and putting it gently in her mouth. She gives me what at first is a playful, annoyed look that then turns into undying love. I pull the spoon out of her mouth and kiss her, tasting the sweetness of the cake.

After the party ends, I pick Annie up, bridal style, taking care not to hurt the baby. The entrance to our bedroom is decorated in shells and carefully-woven decorative nets. This is Annie's doing.

I look down at her, surprised. She looks back up and winks, melting my heart.

"I love you." I tell her. Such a simple phrase, so taken for granted, but so beautiful all the same.

"I love you too."

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