~ 1 Month Later ~

Katniss's P.O.V.

"Kit-Kat, it's going to be okay. You just have to tell the truth." Peeta says and takes a hold of my shaking hand as we wait outside of the courtroom.

'The truth will hurt him more...' I think.

My leg keeps bouncing up and down. And out of nerves I keep creasing the lines in my skirt. Peeta has Ruby in her carrier next to him. Prim is next to her, followed by Madge and Annie. Then, along with the whole HU Crew are going to testify as well, but mine matters most. Since I was the victim. The court gets called to order. Gale and his lawyer enter and sit down on the opposite table of me. I avoid looking in his direction. I can't.

"The stand would like to call witness, Katniss Layla Everdeen to the stand."

I feel like I could throw up. My heart wants to leap from my chest. I slowly and cautiously approach the witness stand. I take my seat and recite the sworn oath.

"I swear by Almighty God that I will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Affirmation: I solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." I say.

Gale's lawyer comes up.

"Miss Everdeen, is it or is it not true that you were in a relationship with my client?" He asks.

"Yes. That is true. Since Jr. High." I say.

"And, could you share with us the experience with Mr. Hawthorne?"

"It was a great time in my life, for the most part." I say.

"For the most part, care to elaborate?"

"When... High School came around... things just changed. He'd drink, smoke, and drugs. And at that time, my Mother was doing those things as well. And it was hard, since he'd get... Abusive..." I explained.

"Yet you stayed?"

"Of course, I loved him. And I wanted to help him. Since I couldn't save my mother." I say.

"No further questions, Your Honor." He says,

My lawyer comes to ask me questions next.

"Miss Everdeen, is it true that the defendant would have times of excessive alcohol and paraphernalia uses, which in the end led to the abuse of you?"

"That is true, yes. Not very often, but when it did happen... It was hard."

"And the most recent besides the matter in which we are all here, is he was drinking and you wanted him to stop, is that correct?"

"Yes. I was dealing with it with my mother, and didn't want to be with him. So I told him to give it up, so I could stay. He didn't and then I tried to break up with him. Which led to a physical encounter and hospitalization with what he did." I will explain.

"And what did he do?"

"He... beat me. Trashed my house. Stabbed me. Which at the time, I thought was nothing... but I soon found out I was pregnant." I say.

"And in this most recent case of abuse, you were still as well, no?"

"Yes... five months." I say.

"And he had kidnapped you, drugged you, and raped you?"

"Yes... he did. I couldn't do anything..." I say.

"No more questions, Your Honor."

The day drags on. My whole family talks and shares their sides. Then the evidence is shown. And the jury leaves to decide Gale's fate. I hold Ruby and Peeta holds my hand. The jury comes out to give the verdict.

"We find the defendant, Gale Lewis Hawthorne, guilty of Aggravated Assault in the third Degree, along with Statutory Rape. A total sentence of twenty three years in the Capitol Corrections Facility." The jury explains.

I feel myself trembling. Not with fear, but with regret. Even though I know what was done to me was very wrong. I still have a place for him in my heart. And he loved me at one point, and so did I. The judge calls the court out of session and dismisses us. I get up and go to Gale before he leaves. I hugged him. He can't hug me back, but he rests his head on the crook of my shoulder.

"Goodbye, Gale." I say softly, a single tear rolling down my face.

"Bye, Catnip." he says.

I let him go.

"She's a cute one, Kat. I bet you'll make a great Mom." he says, nodding down to Ruby.

"Thank you." I say with a small smile.

"I'm sorry, Katniss. I am. I hope you have a better life with someone else. Truly." he says with a true genuine smile. One I haven't seen from him in ages.

I nod a little and smile, now more tears falling. The police escort him out. And I feel a small part of my heart locked up as he leaves.

~

Wedding day!

I stand in front of a long mirror as the hired stylists named Cinna, Flavius and Venia fuss around me, fluffing my hair once more and adding the finishing touches to my wedding dress. It's a classic affair, lace skirt, roses sewn onto it, no sleeves or straps, just naturally held up. It's coupled by a crown of white roses as the red rose bouquet lays on a dresser close by. The gloves are shiny white velvet with a swirly pattern in a darker shade of white running across it.

'You're so gorgeous,' Venia sighs as she fixes a shiny gold pin in the shape of a mockingjay into my hair, 'I would kill to have looks like you. He's a lucky fella.'

I smile into the mirror in front of me. The woman in front of me is unrecognisable; she's a beautiful and elegant woman, not someone who's been in a coma, had a child, had the terrible 'r' word happen to her. No, she looks as if she's been happy for as long as she can remember, and that it'll finally happen to me.

The organ music starts playing as I walk onto the beach where everyone stands up as I walk down the aisle. Peeta's stood there, along with the HU crew. Funny holds Ruby in his arms as she squirms in his arms when she sees me. Madge and Annie stand next to the spot I'm destined to stand in.

'We are gathered here today to witness the joining of Katniss Layla Everdeen and Peeta James Mellark,' the priest says when I reach the end and everyone has sat back down in their chairs.

"Peeta James Mellark, do you take Katniss to be your lawful wife? To have and hold from this day forward? For the better or for worse? For the richer or for poorer? In sickness and in health? Until death do you part?" The priest asks Peeta. He smiles.

"I, Peeta James Mellark, take Katniss Layla Everdeen to be my lawful wife, to have and hold from this forward. For the better and worse, for the richer and poorer, and in sickness and health. Until death do us part." He looks at my eyes, and I look at his. I find joy and excitement within those ocean blue eyes, and I see my smiling reflection.

"Katniss Layla Everdeen, do you take Peeta James Mellark to be your lawful husband? To have and hold from this day forward? For the better or for worse? For the richer or for poorer? In sickness and in health? Until death do you part?" The priest recites his speech. I look toward Peeta again.

"I, Katniss Layla Everdeen, take Peeta James Mellark to be my lawful husband, to have and hold from this day forward. For the better and worse, for the richer and poorer, in sickness and in health. Until death do us part." I say.

"With the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." The crowd stands up from their seats and cheers before Peeta leans towards me. He kisses me and we share it passionately as our audience goes wild. I run out of breath and pull away, smiling intensely back at Peeta. I wipe the tears of joy away and Peeta holds my hand, ready to walk me down the aisle. There's no words to describe how I'm feeling right now.

~

Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. HU are getting their performance ready, since they said they had something in store for us which I'm really excited for. My friends and family mingle between themselves while eating the sweets laid upon the tables next to me. Peeta talking with my grandparents, Grandma Effie and Grandpa Haymitch. I take a jam biscuit and bite into the delicious sweetness. Ruby squirms around in my arms, wishing to grab ahold of it.

"No, Rubs, you still have a long way till you get to eat cookies okay?" I whisper to her, and she stops but giggles.

I smile as I listen to her giggle. I guess they were right, one of the best sounds a mother can hear is a baby's laughter.

HU are finished setting up and Jorel strums his guitar to check the sound quality and volume. Everyone cheers as he does some shreds.

'We ready?' Danny shouts into the microphone.

The crowd cheers as the opening notes of 'Gravity' starts to play. It hits hard, considering what's been going on in my life so far. I wipe a slight tear away at the end of the song as 'Coming Back Down' starts to play.

The day goes from a cloudless evening sunset to a cloudless warm night with lights sparkling around the marquees and the sound of crashing waves around us. It's perfect; I have my friends, my daughter, my new husband and family with me. It's all I could ask for, and more!

As soon as I know it, it's time for our dance. I give Ruby to Madge, and I go onto the beach with Peeta, smiling at me. He slips his hands onto my waist and I lay my hands upon his shoulders. I quickly peck him on the lips, and the soft music starts to play. Other's join us, each grabbing a person to dance with. I gaze into Peeta's eyes.

"You look beautiful, Katniss." He says, and I know he can see my blush. I should be used to his compliments, but it gets me everytime.

"And you look handsome, Peeta." I say in return.

We spend the rest of the night dancing away, eating food, and enjoying the night with everyone we love.

AHCK!!! SOOO GOOD!! So sorry nothing has been out! Ruby, Fern and I have been real busy!! But wez hoped you liked this one! We all pitched in! So good right? Plz leave a vote and a comment! More will come later, k! We lovez you all! Thx for the love and support!! Baii!!❤❤❤❤

-Zeffie, Fern and Ruby!