Annie was woken abruptly to the sound of rhythmic knocking on the door. She sighed, sitting up in bed carefully as to not disturb Finnick who continued to sleep soundly beside her.

Annie slid off the bed, rubbing her eyes with her knuckles. She shuffled over to the door, drowsiness still holding onto her body.

She unlocked the door and pulled it open, her groggy state sobering up immediately as Effie Trinket entered the room. Her joyful shriek awoke Finnick. He sat up in the bed abruptly, seeming panicked until his eyes fell upon Annie, a confused expression etched on her face.

"Mr. Odair!" Effie gasped. "You're still in bed?" She lightly smacked him on the right cheek. "How shameful! It's your wedding day!"

Sidney walked up behind Annie, laying a hand on her shoulder. Annie turned toward Sidney, surprised when the woman's arms wrapped around the bride.

"I am so sorry," Sidney whispered into Annie's ear. "I tried to hold her off, I really did." She exhaled with a laugh. "I tell you, that woman is dedicated."

Johanna walked into the room, her arms crossed. She looked as unimpressed as normal, but there was slight joy behind her cold eyes.

"Alright, Mr. Odair," Effie walked you the other side of the room, turning and facing the group. Finnick, still confused, walked over to Annie and wrapped his arm around her waist, kissing her cheek before turning his attention to Effie. "You will go to Haymitch, Beetee, and Gale. Beetee is in charge and they should know exactly what to do. Do not let Gale or Haymitch intervene."

"Okay-" Finnick was cut off.

"Seriously, Gale ruins everything." Sidney murmured, giving Finnick an overtly serious stare.

"And Annie, you're coming with us," Effie spoke, heading for the door.

"You won't get to see each other till the ceremony so say your goodbyes!" Sidney said as Effie and Johanna had already walked out, she pulled the door closed but let her head stick through for her to finish. "This is gonna be great!" She whisper-yelled with a wide grin before closing the door.

Effie, Sidney, and Johanna walked out of the room. Annie turned towards Finnick, facing him. They both looked at each other slightly confused. Annie laughed at Finnick's expression as he watched Effie walk out the door.

Finnick wrapped his arms around her waist, hugging Annie close to him. He pressed his lips to the top of her head.

"I'll see you tonight," he mumbled, unwilling to let her go.

Effie rushed back into the room, grabbing Annie's arms and tearing it away from around Finnick. "Time is ticking! We don't have all day!" Effie spoke, taking Annie away. She placed her hands on Annie's shoulders, pushing her towards the door.

Annie looked over her shoulder at Finnick for a final glance. "I love you!" Annie yelled at him as she was pushed out of the door.

"I love you too!" Finnick's voice echoed out of the room, following Annie as she was ushered away.

She had no idea if Finnick would be treated the same way. She did not believe Haymitch or Gale would be of much help, so Annie assumed that the preparation would fall upon Beetee's and Finnick's shoulders.

Annie was surprised to be escorted into the production room where District Thirteen filmed all of their propaganda. Sidney knew the room and usually didn't seem to like being in it, but her attitude was different due to the day's celebrations.

Annie was sat down in a chair and Effie began on her makeup. Sidney stood off to the side while Johanna leaned against the counter, giving Effie advice on the makeup every so often.

Annie stood behind two thin sheets that had been hung from the ceiling, acting as curtains. Effie was watching her closely, making sure the girl did not peak her head out and look at the crowd.

Annie stood in the back, the only thing separating her from the wedding aisle being the sheets. Sidney and Johanna stood with her. They would be the closest thing Annie had to bridesmaids. Sidney wore a suit while Johanna refused to take off her normal District Thirteen uniform, which Annie didn't mind, but Effie scolded her over. Johanna wore regular District Thirteen clothing.

Annie glanced back and forth between Sidney and Johanna, giving them each small smiles as a thank you. Annie knew how much trauma the two were still dealing with from the Capitol. It meant a lot to Annie and Finnick that either would be present for the ceremony.

Judging by the echo of the voices chattering from behind the curtain, Annie believed half of District Thirteen seemed to be invited.

Effie handed Annie a bouquet of blue flowers, orchids, Annie believed. Effie then peaked her head out from behind the curtain, signaling to the musicians to begin playing the march.

"Places!" Effie chimed. Primrose stood in front, a basket of flower petals in hand. Sidney had asked her to be the flower girl last minute, which Prim happily accepted. Effie was next in line. While Effie had no official title in place, she had planned the entire wedding. Next was Sidney, then Johanna, and of course, Annie.

Annie took a deep breath, watching as Prim disappeared on the other side of the curtain. Slowly, each one of her friends stepped out. She was nervous as nothing in her life had prepared her for how to act in this moment, but that was simply the best part. Annie didn't need a fancy wedding where everything went exactly as planned. All she needed was a few close friends and Finnick.

She stepped out from behind the curtain, every single person in the room standing, with their eyes on her.

Annie's assumptions were correct. Half of the District was present, standing silently and watching the bride as she walked down the aisle. Most of the people that surrounded her, Annie didn't know the names of. But it did not matter to her. Her closest friends and the love of her life stood before her.

Annie tore her eyes away from the strangers, looking to the front of the aisle where Finnick stood in front of the wedding officiant.

Annie reached the end of the aisle, the music coming to a close. She stood on the left while Finnick stood on the right, both of them turning towards the other and taking each other's hands. The wedding officiant stood on a small platform beside them, motioning for the crowd to take their seats.

Annie stared into the eyes of the man she loved. They were green, reminding her of the trees back home. Even now, he looked so young. Exactly like the day she had first met him, all those years ago.

Finnick smiled at Annie, finding it difficult to listen to the wedding officiator as he was lost in her eyes. Finnick had fallen in love with Annie because he believed she was everything he was not. Even after all of the trauma and pain, she was kind and generous. He had never believed he would be able to love someone this way, but from the day he met her, Finnick's entire life changed. He had love in his life once again.

The officiant read his opening words from a set of cards he and Plutarch had scripted the day before, but Finnick and Annie were hardly listening as they stood shoulder to shoulder, stealing glances at each other. Finnick shifted in Peeta's recycled, ill-fitting suit, and Annie ducked her head to hide a giggle. He grinned, his cheeks flushing a bit, but his face grew more solemn as he leaned toward her long enough to whisper,

"You're beautiful."

This time Annie blushed as she glanced down at the silk gown Katniss had given her. She tried not to think about the dozens of eyes on her back, but all too soon she was being asked to turn towards them as she and Finnick faced each other. Her hands began to shake as he took them, and he nervously brushed his thumbs across the tops of her palms.

Finnick couldn't help but lose himself in the sparkle of Annie's eye as he gazed at her, and he started when the officiant gave him a gentle prod.

"The vows?" The officiant murmured.

"Oh," Finnick quickly released Annie's hands and started to dig through his pocket. The audience laughed politely, and he felt his face growing hot again as he unfolded the crumpled little sheet of paper. He cleared his throat, took a deep breath, and with Annie watching, he began to read,

"Annie, I wouldn't be here without you. When you found me, I was drowning, and the only thing I knew how to do was keep my head above the water. But you . . ." a lump rose in Finnick's throat, and he blinked back tears as he continued. "You rescued me, and you breathed life into me. You put warm blood in my veins, and for the first time in a long time, I wasn't afraid to feel my heart beat. So I want to give you my heart now. You've had it all along, of course, but it's good to make things official."

The audience let out another light laugh, and when Finnick looked up, he could see Annie grinning at him with misty eyes. He didn't need to look at his paper anymore to tell her,

"I love you, Annie, now and forever. And I want to wake up beside you every morning for the rest of my life."

It wasn't time for the "I do"s, but Annie was already nodding as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. Finnick folded his paper closed, and the officiant handed Annie the page she'd entrusted to him before the ceremony. She took it with trembling fingers, and her voice quivered in her throat as she spoke.

"Finnick, since the day I knew I loved you, I knew I never wanted to be apart from you. But that was never possible until now. And I've spent so many nights praying for a day to come where you weren't hurting anymore. And I don't know what's going to happen next, after today, but I want to be with you, no matter what happens. And no matter what happens, I want you to know how much I love you."

Finnick's fingers teased the corners of his own paper. The officiant stepped forward and touched salt water to his lips, then to Annie's. He turned to retrieve the rings, and when he did Finnick stepped forward and stole a kiss, taking the opportunity to wipe away her tears. The audience was giggling, but this time he ignored them.

"Annie Cresta, do you take Finnick Odair as your husband?" The officiant asked. "To love and cherish, through the good times and bad? Loving and honoring him even after death, if it takes him first?"

Annie nodded. "I do."

The man turned toward Finnick. "Finnick Odair, do you take Annie Cresta as your wife? To love and cherish, through the good times and bad? Loving and honoring her even after death, of it takes her first?"

Finnick also nodded. "I do."

"Then," the officiant spoke. "By the power invested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife."

Cheers erupted around them as Finnick took Annie by he waist, pulling her close to his body and kissing her, softly. They kissed as if it was the first and last time. The world around them seemed to melt away and it was just the two of them, against the world.

Sidney cheered the loudest, occasionally stopping her clapping to wipe the tears from her eyes. Johanna stood next to her and leaned over a bit to see if her eyes deceived her or not. They didn't. "Are you crying?"

"They're so real, Johanna." Sidney sniffled. "They're so real!"

The party began almost instantly after the ceremony ended. The District Thirteen crowd took away the chairs, clearing floor space for dancing around the large tree in the beautiful greenhouse. The band began to play music and everyone there began to dance with Annie and Finnick in the center of it all.

Annie was normally anxious when in crowds, but Finnick told her to keep her eyes on him. Looking at only him and nothing else pushed every bit anxiety she had out of her body.

They held their hands up to each other in the air, spinning in a circle to the fast pace music. Couples around them joined in the dance, everyone dancing in their own way. Finnick lifted Annie's hand above their heads and spun her into his chest, causing both of them to laugh as Finnick fumbled the footsteps.

Sidney, Johanna, and Katniss stood by the sidelines, an extremely wide smile on Sidney's face as she clapped along. "This is literally the most beautiful day of my life." She told the two.

Katniss stood in silence for a moment. "I don't know if that's sad or sweet."

Johanna took a second of thinking. "The word you're looking for is empathetic . . . or forever alone." She finished with a small shrug, Katniss grinned.

"Shut up, Johanna." Sidney elbowed the woman in her arm. Sidney's focus only left the conversation when a familiar tune from District Twelve began to play.

Sidney looked around the outside of the crowd, noticing five bodies in one of the corners where chairs from the ceremony still remained. Sidney could see the familiar blonde hair, even through the crowd.

"I'm gonna ask Peeta to dance."

Before Sidney had a chance to confidently walk away, Katniss spoke up. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" She asked Sidney, her eyes looking both concerned and confused.

Sidney simply nodded and smirked. "I'll be fine, everyone loves me." She bragged before turning and walking away.

Sidney glided toward Peeta, ignoring the concerned looks she got as she stopped in front of him. There were four guards surrounding Peeta where he sat, two in the front and two in the back. The two in the front stepped to the side, letting Sidney through. At the sight of his friend, Peeta stood up.

He was dressed rather nicely. He wore normal District Thirteen clothes, but they looked much more formal when compared to the hospital clothes. His hair was not in its usual disarray and he simply looked happier than in the psych-ward.

He smiled at Sidney as she stood in front of him, waiting to hear what she had to say. "Nice to see you here, Pete." Sidney smiled, ruffling up his hair slightly.

Something seemed to flash in his eyes at hearing his nickname Sidney had given him back in the Hunger Games.

"Thank you, Sidney." Peeta spoke, raising his hands to his hair, which were chained together at his wrists. He patted his blonde locks down a bit. "You look beautiful."

"Aw, well, you're as handsome as ever." Sidney widely smiled at him. "Would you care to take my hand for this dance?" She joked, holding back a snicker. Both Sidney and Peeta could see the guards tense beside them.

"I would love to, but I don't think that's a good idea." Peeta spoke, glancing at the guards.

"Peeta, one thing you'll learn about me is I have great ideas." Sidney smiled, she tilted her head to look at one of the guards. "You don't mind, do you, boys?" The guards looked at her, staying silent before shaking their heads. "Wonderful, you guys are so nice."

Sidney took the keys from one of the guard's hands, unlocking Peeta's wrists from the metal cuffs. The guards seemed even more worried, but Sidney ignored them as she took Peeta's hand and brought him to the dance floor.

"Are you sure I can be here without cuffs?" Peeta asked, watching as Sidney took his hands and placed them lightly above her hips. She then placed her hands on his shoulders.

"Oh, do you think I'm ever sure of anything?" Sidney snickered. "But I have faith in you, and that counts for something. Trust me, because I trust you." Peeta hesitated, but slowly began to nod. "Do you know this song?"

Peeta was silent for a second, listening to the music. Slowly, a smile spread upon his face and he began to nod. "It's from District Twelve."

"I've never heard it in my life," Sidney spoke. "Would you mind leading?" Peeta smiled wider and nodded, pulling Sidney into the inner circle of the dance floor. They began to move at a fast pace, spinning around with the rest of the dancing partners.

Sidney smiled as she watched Peeta lead her through the dance of his home. He looked so happy to remember something happy of his District. He looked happy to be the one in control for once, even if it was in control of such a small thing as a dance.

The truth was, Sidney knew the song. She knew the dance. She knew it very well, in fact. While the song and dance originated from District Twelve, it was very popular all over Panem. But Sidney understood what it felt like to not have control over ones self. She understood how hopeless and weak it makes a person feel. So, if Sidney could give Peeta the feeling of control over his mind back, even just a little, she was happy.

[A/N: Fun fact: This was my favorite chapter ever. I love Odesta, Peeta got to be happy, Sidney was in a very good mood, overall great vibes! . . . Now get ready for the upcoming hellfire.]