Finding the Missing Piece: Book 3

Chapter Eighteen

Katniss POV-

There's exactly eighteen days until I become Katniss Mellark.

Eighteen.

Roughly 432 hours and about 25,920 minutes until Peeta and I's wedding.

It's going to be such a change but in all reality, it is as if nothing has even changed at all.

We will still live the same way that we did before marriage. We will probably feel the same way about each other too.

Nothing is really going to change, just maybe my last name?

Marriage is so much more than that, I know that. But the way Peeta and I have lived, I don't think it wouldn't matter if we had that marriage license or not. We love each other and a simple piece of paper doesn't mean much, I guess, it really just officiates it.

I really don't know how to explain it.

I've talked to Peeta about it before and he understands me, he's always seemed to understand me when it came to that.

Even though, I've quickly become obsessed with the idea of marriage.

Brandon went back to his base yesterday and I still can't believe what went on that night.

Bristol is still upset with him over it but she decided it's not worth it to be mad. Especially, since they only had a few days to be together and there's the possibility she could never see him again.

Carter, as I knew, eventually warmed up to him a little. Not as much as she likes Peeta but she still liked Brandon okay.

I can't believe Brandon was mad at Peeta for Carter liking him.

But, Bristol was mad at me for the same exact reason.

Maybe, if Peeta and I ever have kids, I will understand better, but now, I just don't get it.

I get Bristol, sure, but Brandon, not really considering he's always gone.

Honestly, he should feel grateful that Carter has a father figure around that's as wonderful and as loving as Peeta.

It makes me sick thinking about it.

After all we've all done for his family, he pulled that.

I mean Bristol pulled it too, but she had just had a baby. Her hormones were all messed up and she was pretty upset anyways. I don't know, it was just different with Bristol and more understandable.

I'm not saying that I completely blame Brandon but at the same time, it didn't make him right.

Finnick and Annie left last night.

I can't believe all the changes going on with us all.

Annie is pregnant, seven months pregnant.

With everything going on, Peeta and I haven't even been able to think about how excited we are yet, but I know it's coming.

Carter will have a friend to play with on some occasions and that makes me happy. She will be about three months old by the time Annie has her baby so they won't be too far apart.

They say they don't know it's gender but they could be lying, they're good at hiding stuff like this, obviously.

Peeta is still extremely upset with his family, though, it's been many months since the incidents began.

I don't blame him though, I'm still mad myself.

It was terrible on all of their parts.

I asked him if he thought they would show up for the wedding, he replied with, "I don't know. I thought they'd at least show up for you when I was sick, to help you, to get you some information but I was wrong."

His family treats him so poorly.

Though, his dad isn't too bad, not showing up for him, was not right.

I just don't understand what got into him.

I expected it from the other three, but not Mr. Mellark.

Peeta lived with a horrible, abusive mother and a father who tried to help him but really didn't.

Lazy brothers too.

They worked him to death since he was little and that wasn't right.

I know they needed help but if everyone was doing their job it wouldn't have been as bad for Peeta.

I'm actually glad that Peeta no longer works at the bakery. Though, I can see how much he misses it. I mean, working at the bakery was apart of his everyday life. It was his passion and for him to just leave it all for my sake is so selfless.

Looking at him, you would never have guessed that he went through so much.

He smiles the brightest, jokes the most, has the biggest heart around.

It just makes no sense to me.

I lost my sister and my dad.

My mom and I's relationship is kind of rocky but I still scowl all the time.

And I have no reason to because I am living the best life imaginable with Peeta but I still do it.

My family was perfect until we lost two members.

That is when it went bad and even before my dad died, I had no reason to act the way I did.

Peeta should've been that kid who was depressed or always frowning but he wasn't because he made the best out of his normal.

I remember the hundreds of conversations we've had about our 'normals.'

It still just floors me.

What was normal for us as children that shouldn't have been and what's normal now.

It really just makes me love him more, thinking about his cruel past.

Peeta hadn't a clue in the world that other kids didn't live like he did and that's what makes it so much more upsetting to me.

Carter isn't going to live the way Finnick and Annie's kid will and my kids won't live the same as them.

I'm not saying they won't live happily but there's differentiated lives all around the world and no one knows what's normal for someone else may not be normal for another.

This wedding makes me think a lot.

I think a lot about life and living and even loving.

I think about ways I can better Peeta and I's 'perfect' relationship.

It's not perfect.

We just love each other a lot.

Peeta and I make it work.