LEIA SHOT UP IN BED WITH A GASP AFTER A NIGHTMARE. She had been having them every night since she got back from the Capitol, and she barely got any sleep most of the time. This time, when she woke up, Finnick was rubbing her shoulders and staring at her with a concerned expression. "You were talking again."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up," she murmured apologetically. She felt sick to her stomach, and she had to close her eyes and take a few deep breaths to calm herself down.

"Don't apologize," he responded, kissing her on the shoulder. "I can't count how many times I woke you up, screaming in the middle of the night after a nightmare. You're okay."

She nodded, and she thought back to the times she had stirred to hear him muttering and crying and yelling whilst asleep. Now, the roles were reversed, and she was the one with the trauma. It was the same dream every time. She was in that room with the Peacekeepers, and she was being tortured. And then blood started dripping down her legs, and she had a terrible feeling that something was wrong.

And then she woke up.

"You're okay, we're okay, I promise," Finnick muttered in her ear as she rocked very slightly back and forth. "We're safe in District 13, and we're getting married. The baby is fine, and it'll come any day now. We're okay."

She ran her hands across her stomach, reminding herself that the baby was fine and alive and well. She went to the doctor every single day to make sure of it. They would be fine.

"Thank you," she told him once she finally calmed herself down.

"Yeah, of course. I'm right here," he assured her, and he helped her lie back down slowly. She rested her head in the crook of his arm, and he kissed her on the forehead. "Now, try to get some more sleep. We've got a wedding tomorrow."

She grinned at the thought, and between that and Finnick's arms around her, she was able to sleep like a baby the rest of the night.

《✵》

LEIA COULD NOT STOP SMILING AS SHE STOOD AT THE ALTAR. Annie was crying behind her as the maid of honor, and Katniss was stood behind Finnick as the best man. Finnick and Leia were holding hands and staring at each other as they gave their vows, and the Odair man just wanted to kiss her right there. She looked so beautiful, and he couldn't believe everything that they had gone through.

"I, Leia Calore, take you, Finnick Odair, as my husband from this day forward, in sickness and in health. For richer or poorer. I promise to love and cherish you each day. I swear that I will love you forever, and I couldn't imagine being up here with anyone else," she promised to him.

"I, Finnick Odair, take you, Leia Calore, as my wife from this day forth," Finnick told her. "Together or apart, we will always be united. One life, one purpose, one destiny. You are the love of my life, Leia, and we have fought against horrible odds to get here today. But we made it."

"You may kiss the bride," the officiator said once they made it apparent that they couldn't wait a moment longer to be married.

Finnick wasted no time, pulling Leia into his arms and kissing her. The entire crowd applauded and cheered, and she laughed loudly as the Odair man spun her around and dipped her before kissing her again. She wanted to run around and shout and cheer and dance because she was so happy. She loved Finnick so much that it hurt, and she never wanted to live without him.

He pulled her back up and hugged her sideways so that they could both turn and smile at the people that came to support them. Finally, the clapping died down, and he raised his eyebrows at her as music filled the room. "May I have this dance, my fair lady?"

"I suppose you can, kind sir," she responded, and he grabbed her arm and tugged her toward the dance floor.

They danced and danced happily, spinning around in circles with the rest of the guests until their feet hurt, and then they danced some more. Finally, after a long time, everyone else seemed to give up and sit down, they were the only ones left standing there.

But Leia could tell that something was wrong. Finnick's mind was somewhere else in that moment, and he was staring at her with a kind of sadness in his eyes. She frowned. "What is it?"

"Nothing you need to worry about right now," he responded, shaking his head.

"Finnick, tell me," she insisted. She did not want to be lied to on her wedding night. He was still hesitant, and she continued, "I'm not a child. I'm your wife. Your problems are my problems now."

He finally relented, sighing, "There's a war coming, Leia. And I need to be there when it happens." She went silent, and she felt her heart stop for a moment. She knew that it was inevitable, but she really wanted to just tie him up and keep him there so that he couldn't get hurt. "And, um, I spoke with Johanna earlier. Katniss is heading to the Capitol now, so I think I need to leave tomorrow."

"Finnick," she breathed out, closing her eyes for a moment as they continued to sway slowly back and forth. She just got him back. She couldn't lose him again, but she knew that he would never forgive himself if he wasn't in the fight.

He licked his lips and glanced down at his feet. "I need to be there, Leia. I need to fight for you and for the baby."

"I know," she responded quietly. She couldn't stop him from fighting, and she couldn't go herself because she had a stomach that was blown up like a balloon. Plus, she wouldn't be any help anyway, so she had to stay. "I just wish it didn't have to be so soon."

"Well, let's not think about it right now. Let's enjoy this moment, where it's just you and me against the world," he told her, and she nodded with a small smile. She then rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes, focusing on the feeling of him and nothing else.