Our Life After

The Big Day

*Katniss's POV*

I wake up on a bright May morning, awoken by an excited Effie Trinket. I open my eyes to check what time it is. My clock reads 6:00 am.

"Effie! Why so early?" I almost demand. You'd think since its MY wedding day I'd be able to sleep in. The ceremony isn't until 1:00.

"Trust me, my dear, you need a lot of help," Octavia says from behind Effie. I jump up and give them all a big hug.

"I've missed you guys!"

"Oh, and we've missed you my darling!"

So I allow them to give me a bath and take control of me for the rest of the day. They allow me to eat and stuff, but I don't see Peeta. I, instinctively, get immediately worried.

"Where's Peeta?" I ask.

"Oh, honey I keep forgetting, you've never attended a real wedding before. The groom isn't supposed to see the bride until she walks down the aisle."

"Oh," I say dumbly.

By 12:00 I've been made up, but not too Capitolish. I wanted this to be a pretty normal wedding. Nothing over the top. I'm in my dress and veil and my hair and makeup is done and am standing in front of a full body mirror.

I feel silly because I start to cry.

"Honey? Is everything okay? And please don't cry, your makeup will run."

"It's just.... Thank you guys. I never imagined this."

I look gorgeous in the long dress and veil that trails behind me on the floor. My hair is done in hundreds of little ringlets and falls just below my bust. My makeup is simple and I think it couldn't be more perfect. My nails are done in a light pink to match the Primroses on my dress.

Finally, 1:00 rolls around, and I can't contain my excitement and I'll admit, I'm also a little nervous. Haymitch comes into my dressing room.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, not particularly rude or upset or anything.

"I'm going to walk you down the aisle because....." he trails off. But I know what he was insinuating. My real father isn't here.

"Haymitch, thank you." I say and give him a huge hug.

I can hear the music starting outside, so I take Haymitch's arm and he leads me out the door and towards the aisle. As I walk down the aisle, I notice tears in Peeta's eyes. Haymitch passes me into his strong arms, and we stand in front of the priest and say our vows while smiling and laughing and crying. He finally says, "You may kiss the bride."

Peeta scoops me up in his arms and I kiss him hard, but passionately and he kisses me back equally and we stay there for a second, and everyone claps, and I would stay there all day until Peeta backs up, and motions for me to turn around. I turn and throw the bouquet, and sure enough, Johanna Mason catches it and looks up at Gale with a smile I've never seen before. Sincere happiness. I can't wait to see her do exactly what I did today.

Right then, someone rolls out a huge cake. The cake is decorated with things symbolic to Peeta and I. I start bawling when I see an iced piece of burnt bread. This is truly the best day ever. And I wouldn't trade it for the world.