The Mockingjay Lives On

Chapter 4

Peeta POV
One Month Later

Its our wedding day. I'm trying to keep calm. Reporters are here. I'm trying to contain myself. I don't want to ruin this day by having a flashback. I have Gale, Haymitch, Rory, Vick and Pollux all trying to keep me relaxed and keeping the reporters away. Plutarch has warned them. He's the president now. Paylor passed away suddenly from illness a couple years ago. Katniss and I think it was from some trauma she received in eight during the war. Katniss told me about some big wound she had on her neck the first time she met Paylor. I just know I want to make it through all of this. I want to see my beautiful bride.

Katniss POV

I can't believe it's here. Our wedding day. I'm worried about Peeta. Stupid reporters. I don't want him to have an incident. 

"Katniss! Katniss!" I hear Annie's voice, trying to get my attention. "Yeah?" "Are you okay?" she says. I smile and nod, "yes I'm okay, I'm just worried about Peeta." I say.

She smiles, "don't you worry, all the guys are with him and Plutarch has made sure all of the reporters stay away, he promised. Remember?" "Where's Noah?" I ask. Before she can reply, I hear his little voice, "right here Auntie Katniss!" he squeals.

I scoop him up and cuddle him. He keeps me calm. He reminds me so much of Finnick. He has his eyes and hair. A complete carbon copy of him. Annie has done so well with him. She's definitely gotten better in the last four years, since he was born.

"Brainless," I hear a voice and its the one and only Johanna. I reach out with one arm and give her a hug. We have gotten so much closer over the last five years. "Relax, everythings going to be fine. Mellark will be okay." she says, smiling. "I know, I am just worried about him. I'm always worried about him, you know?" I say. "That boy is strong Kat, he loves you, he will be fine, I promise." she hugs me tighter. 

"Okay Darling, its time!" my mother says. I set Noah down. Charlie and Jo help me up. Standing at the doorway is Cressida, Effie and Haymitch. Haymitch is going to walk me down the aisle. As if Effie can't help herself, she looks right at me and says "Chins up, smiles on." When she turns her back I roll my eyes and laugh. 'Yes Effie, I know.' I think to myself. 

The music starts and immediately I start shaking. Is this real or not real? Most definitely real. I'm marrying Peeta. Haymitch has a grip on me. "Sweetheart, look up." he says. I do as he says and I see Peeta. His smile was all I needed to see. He looks so handsome. I feel tears starting to gather in my eyes. I have to stop them. The only people here are the ones that matter to me. Nobody else. Its right here in twelve with my family.

Peeta POV

I see Katniss, she's beautiful, although, she could be wearing rags right now and I'd still think she's the most beautiful person in the world. I can't contain my tears. I have waited for this day for so long.

As soon as she's in front of me, I see she's wearing the locket I gave her in the second Games. I know why she's wearing it too. Prim. It has a picture of her in it. I look right at her and mouth 'I love you' to her and she returns with with an 'I love you more'.

The ceremony seems to just go by in a blur, until we are asked to say our vows. I didn't have to write it down, but I did for our book. I look at her and I start.

"Katniss, from the first day I saw you, I was in love. You were a ray of sunshine in my life. The only person who I knew I could ever love. I watched you every single day, working up some kind of courage to even just say hello to you. For eleven years I tried, unsuccessfully. The reaping, well, for a minute there I thought I had lost my chance to talk to you, to tell you how I felt about you. When my name was called, I thought it was some kind of luck, given where we were headed. We went through so much, and yet you stayed with me. Real or not real?" I look at her, tears streaming down my face. "Real. I love you." she says. 

Katniss POV

Peeta's vows are just stabbing my heart and as much as I tried to not cry, the tears are there. It's my turn to tell him mine.

"Peeta, you saved my life. You were the reason I was able to go on and live. When I wanted to thank you, I didn't know how. I do now. Thank you for being my rock, but more than anything, thank you for being my dandelion. You are the best part of me. You bring out the good in me. When everything happened, I truly thought I had lost you, but you came back to me. You told me 'always'. I cannot imagine you not being in my life. I love you, Peeta. That's Real." 

We kissed, and we were pronounced husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Peeta Mellark. Peeta grabs me and swings me around. He's truly happy and you know what, so am I. I look around and see the faces of my family, biological or not. This is my family. I couldn't imagine anything else.