My pigtails are pulled nice and tight. Today, white satin ribbons are tied in sweet little bows around the hair-ties.

Uncle Plat- Er, uh, I guess… Dad flicks one of my ponytails, smiling at me in the mirror. "You look beautiful," he says, grinning like an idiot.

"Thanks," I say, not looking away from my reflection.

Dad kisses the top of my head, smiling at me. "I can't wait for you to be my daughter-in-law."

"Me neither," I say, "Believe me."

He pats my head, "I'll see you later." Then he turns around and leaves. Annabelle and the other orphan girls help me step into my dress and zip it up. I'm relieved it still fits.

My prep team swarms around me, doing my make-up and making last minute preparations on me. Soon, I'm ready to go and I'm escorted the studio where they're doing a photo-shoot of me in my dress. Dutch got his done yesterday, damn him. I'm sure it was a lot easier for him to prepare for it than it is for me.

Just when I thought I got rid of the pesky Capitol, Dutch and I decided to go public with our relationship and soon engagement, and now I can't even wander the streets without being bombarded by people. I've been expecting Geronimo to come around, but he hasn't. I have to say it's a little disappointing, I guess I miss him a bit.

After a forever of smiling pretty and looking in a bunch of different positions, I'm finally done with it. I wonder what the articles will say about me.

I like this better, though. I like having Dad do my hair and make-up for me. I like having the orphans help me into my dress. I like not feeling pressure to look good.

I look down at the little girls' red, rosy cheeks, and I think of Raleigh. Mrs. Young zips the dress up for me, puts the veil on my head and helps me situate it, and then steps back. I feel more beautiful than I have in a while. After about a dozen hugs, the other orphans rush out, giggling.

Annabelle is the only orphan that doesn't do so. I squat down to hug her, smiling at how beautiful she looks in her dress. "You're going to be a wonderful flower girl," I tell her quietly.

She hugs me and laughs happily. "You're a beautiful bride!" she says. Her wide eyes, her freckles, her copper-brown hair… They remind me of Reuben. I kiss the top of her head, "You should be getting out to your spot!"

She nods eagerly and, with one more laugh, she skips out. I stand up and walk to the mirror, examining my reflection. I can't look away from the expertly done make-up, especially the eyeliner Dad put on me. It's perfect. It makes me think of Kara, and how beautiful her eyeliner always looked.

Eventually, my eyes wander down to my abdomen, and my hand lays on it lightly.

"D-DUTCH!" I scream hysterically, "DUTCH!" Tears push out of my eyes, sobs escape my throat, I can't believe this is happening, how did this happen!?

He knocks on the bathroom door, and I scream at him with another hysterical sob, "JUST GET YOUR ASS IN HERE!"

He throws open the door, "Marlowe, are you okay!? What's going on?"

I slap him across the face and put the stick in his hands. "HERE'S WHAT'S GOING ON!? HOW DID THIS HAPPEN!?" I collapse again, burying my face in my hands and sobbing. It takes him a second to respond.

"Th…This is a pregnancy test, isn't it?"

"WHAT ELSE COULD IT FUCKING BE!?" I shout, sick of his shit, sick of everything. I can't do this, I'm only 19, going on 20!

"And… It's positive?"

I kick him where it hurts and scream, "OF COURSE IT'S POSITIVE WHY WOULD I BE A SOBBING MESS IF IT WAS NEGATIVE YOU FUCKING MORON!?" I know I shouldn't be cussing him out like this, but I am anyways. My life is over, what's going to happen to me!? What if he LEAVES!?

"Oh my God…"

"SAY SOMETHING! SAY SOMETHING AND GET IT OVER WITH!"

"O-Oh my God…"

"STOP SAYING THAT!" I feel irrationally angry now, angry and upset, falling apart, oh man, this is bad, what do I do!?

He takes both of my hands and pulls me up from the floor. "It's going to be okay," he says, taking me into his arms and pressing my face into his shoulder. "You hear me? It's going to be okay."

I sob into his shirt and don't even know what to do except for try to get a hold of myself.

"How the hell is it the only time, the one time we fuck, that it gets me knocked up!? How?!" It's outrageous. The possibility crosses my mind that maybe it isn't his and it's one of my client's… But that's next to impossible. I was on my period and almost as soon as I got off it Dutch and I hooked up for the first time. It has to be his, there's no other way…

"Sssh," he whispers, "Don't worry about it… You're okay…" I hug him tightly and nod into his shoulder. "We're going to make it through this. Okay?" I nod. He lets go of me and wipes my cheeks.

Then, he gets down on a knee and takes my hand. "Let's get married."

"Wh-What?!" I wipe my eyes. He can't be serious!

"Marlowe Glaiser, will you marry me?" He looks up at me, smiling a little. More tears erupt from my eyes and I don't even know what I'm feeling anymore. I actually laugh, though, which means it's probably a happy one.

"You're a damn idiot, proposing to me on my bathroom floor!" I choke out, pulling him up and throwing my arms around him, "But you know I'll marry you anyways."

He laughs, I laugh, and for the first time since before my speech in 7 the Victory Tour, I feel like everything's going to be okay.

The bump doesn't show. We haven't told anyone yet, not even Nick, not even Dad. We don't want to overwhelm them, or the Capitol, for that matter.

I rub my fingers across the white lace gently, only feeling it a little on my stomach. I didn't think this would be a good thing, but part of me's a little excited at the prospect of being a Mom. We'll see what happens.

I put my hands down and stand up straight, just like my escort and Mrs. Young always tell me to. I give a huge, Pomp-like smile and put my hands on my hips, an action that will forever make me think of him in his chariot outfit. Then, I look over my shoulder and check the clock. Almost time for me to go.

I hear a knock on the door and look up. My eyes widen, my heart soars, I run in the high heels I have to wear and throw my arms around him. "GERONIMO!"

He hugs me back and laughs a happy, loud laugh. Hearing the joyful noise, something as sweet as ringing bells, makes me think of Chase.

"I couldn't miss a special day like this," he says.

I can't stop smiling by this point. It's a beautiful feeling.

"I missed you," I say quietly. He's like a second father to me.

He holds out his hand to me and I take it lightly. "Thank you for walking me down the aisle today," I say quietly. "I really appreciate it."

"It's an honor, Marlowe. A true honor." He smiles, his brown eyes warm and comforting. They're really pretty, even without the dark green contacts.

"Thanks…" I laugh, smiling happily and feeling so light I could be a feather.

He smiles, "You're quite radiant. Do you have other news, perhaps?"

I don't know how to respond. Part of me wants to crack and shout happily about the thought of being a mom. The other part wants to keep it quiet and surprise everyone when the time is right. "O-Other news? What other news could we possibly have?"

He just chuckles and shrugs, "You never know. Now, come on. Wouldn't want to be late."

I link my arm with his and the organ music starts to play. Annabelle goes first, spreading flower petals as she goes from her little basket. The pretty little flower petals bring Carrie Caldwell to mind as Geronimo escorts me down the aisle towards Dutch.

I look out the window and see flurries of snowflakes falling delicately from the sky outside. I smile a little, trying to let the snow bring back happy memories instead of horrific ones. Surprisingly, the first thing that comes to my mind when I look out that window is Sampson's wide green eyes the first time he ever saw snow.

When I look down at Dutch, I notice that his hair is a little bit messy, which makes me laugh and think of Ratchet, how his hair never seemed to stick down. Then I look in front of me, to little Annabelle, who has a silver ribbon tied around the elastic that holds her bangs back from her eyes.

The silver causes my mind to wander even more, to Glitch and his pretty silver eyes. I smile a little as I join Dutch in the front of the temple, and realize I'm going to get married! Like, holy shit! But I couldn't be happier.

My bridesmaids look beautiful, wearing bright red dresses.

The color makes me think of the bright red tuxedo Lanchester wore for his interview. I laugh a little to myself. It definitely stood out.

Dutch lacks a best man, he said over and over again that Os is the only one that would ever fit the spot.

Dutch takes both of my hands and smiles up at me. I have to smile back. I think I see a ball of light, a small ball of sparkles, that is flying around Dutch's shoulders… But I blink and it's gone. God, I must be going crazy.

Anyways, I've been thinking so much about my Games… It seems everywhere I look there's something that makes me think of someone. But, really, I'm reminded of Os by most everything. I think of him in the music that plays, in the smiles everyone wears, in the decorations, in the delicate beauty of my dress… I didn't know him long, but he changed me. I see Reuben more often than you'd think, too. I think of him every time someone says something stupid that makes me smile (which Dutch does a lot), or when I do something mischievous and get yelled at…

I guess these people have changed me more than I thought. Usually the memories that come to mind are the less pleasant ones, but today is a day of celebration and happiness, so I guess it's infectious, even to the memories.

Dutch's teal eyes smile brightly at me as Walt Lassiter, a Capitol interviewer that's close to Dad and Dutch, starts the ceremony.

"Friends, we're gathered here to join two young people in marriage." I look in the audience. Geronimo sits with his brother Mark, and Mark's wife Miranda. Nick sits with his wife Kelsey, and with Dad. On Kelsey's other side is Kelsey's mother Ida and her brother, who was the father to a good friend of mine (Chrome won the 22nd Games and later died by Peacekeepers), Vander. Their other sister, holding an adorable little baby, and her husband, sit by them. The orphans are scattered throughout, Mrs. Young and her husband sitting together within them. Talon Davenport sits with Salvador, and Nick's mom sits with him. Nick's Dad sits on the other side of the temple. Various other Victors and people from both Districts sit around, as well. It's a good crowd to be married in front of.

No one speaks up in opposition, so Walt continues. "Have you prepared vows?"

I nod, wanting to go first. Everyone looks to me, so I start, only hesitating a bit. "Being a Victor is not an easy kind of life. I thought I was going to be on my own, but you and Uncle Platinum and Nick all came to my rescue. It's been quite an adventure of emotions and I'll still never forgive you for that proposal." everyone laughs, even him. I grin, enjoying keeping our little secret with him. I continue. "You're an idiot, but I can be an idiot too, and you're the only idiot I ever want or need, and you're also the only moron I want to spend the rest of my life with. I love you so much. I hate it." Everyone laughs again. "And I just want to be your wife more than anything." He smiles and I grin, taking the ring from Kelsey's little cousin Abigail and putting it on Dutch's finger.

The attention shifts away from me and onto him now, and I stare at him with cute, smiling green eyes that I know he can't resist. Now's when I finally get to see Dutch Krietzer get sappy, just like I teased Os about years ago, the morning of the feast. I'm pretty sure I also said something about how we wouldn't get along well if we lived together.

"Well… It's no lie that life's been a hilly kind of road of emotions. We've been through a lot. I don't know if I could've gotten through all of it if I didn't have you there. You're the most spectacular person I've ever met, and you're someone that I could stay up for days talking to. You're one of those few people I can take anything to, and I know for sure you won't leave me by myself. I'll always appreciate that." He grins at me, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "I think I'm the luckiest man alive. And you're the luckiest girl-" everyone laughs, and I can see where he's going with this. Through the laughter, he says, "And he's gonna be the luckiest kid alive."

The audience goes silent. I laugh, knowing that was probably the funniest way to announce it. If only someone snapped a picture right that second.

"I love you, and you make me happy, and I want you to keep making me happy every day for as long as either of us lives, maybe even longer." He takes the ring from Abigail and puts it on my finger.

Walt grins and I can tell that he's misty-eyed. A lot of people are teary, and it makes me laugh because, though I'm happy, I have no need to cry. Even Dutch is teary, which makes me grin even wider.

"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife." He nods a little to Dutch. "You may now kiss the bride."

Dutch pulls me closer and doesn't hesitate to put a hand on my cheek and press his lips to mine, just like our first kiss on the train, close to three years ago. And, just like all that time ago, I don't hesitate to kiss him back. Soon he pulls back and everyone applauds. Nick blows his nose. Dad wipes his eyes. Even Dutch has tears forming in the corner of his eyes.

"And stop crying, you big saps!" I say, laughing. Dutch sweeps me up off my feet and I squeak, causing him to laugh. Then he carries me to the doors of the temple, laughing like a madman.

He stops in front of the doors to the outside. I grin up at him. "What do you think Os would say if he knew we just got married?" I ask, biting my lip. It's something to think about.

His expression darkens for just a second, but then he grins again. "You know what? I think he'd just laugh." I think he's right.

Then, he glances outside at the snow. "Do you want a coat?" He asks, "It's cold out there."

I give him a look that asks him why the hell he's concerned about me being cold. Outwardly, I just roll my eyes. "I'll be fine." He still looks concerned. What a dork. But he's my dork, for the rest of time, and he can help me survive through this crazy whirlwind called a Victor's Life. And I'm going to have his baby, and be a Mom, and I'm going to be a kickass Mom and he's going to be a kickass Dad and hopefully the kid doesn't get the "can't cook for crap" gene.

My future finally looks bright, and for once I'm not afraid of what's to come. Probably a lot more photo shoots, now that the baby news is out there. But, I don't even care. I'll live each moment as it passes, from now on.

Dutch kisses my forehead and says, "If you're sure." He opens the door and starts for the hall where our reception is set to be. In all honesty, I don't mind the flurries of snow.

The cold never bothered me, anyways.

~.~.

A/N: *sobs like crazy* IT'S OVER! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! To learn more about the guests in attendance at the wedding, I'm pretty sure most all of them are featured in chapters of All My Broken Hopes and Dreams. The nice thing about that one is that you can pick a chapter and read it, they're usually all separate stories. Anyways, thank you to everyone who followed this story to the end, especially to those who reviewed every chapter (you know who you are…) Next on my list is the 73rd Games, so if you liked this look out for that! (AND NO SINFONIAN, DUTCH NEVER BECOMES AN ALCOHOLIC AND MARLOWE NEVER DIES SO DON'T EVEN BRING THAT IDEA UP XD) Again, thanks to everyone who read and put up with this story, and I hope the epilogue made you happy like it did for me!

Lots of love, and until next time,

~Celtic