Here Comes The Grooms

 Oksana hurries into the venue on a very important mission.

Oksana: Now, don't forget.  Grampy Dean and them got stucked in a blizzard, so they gotta watch on my tablet.  Make sure you got it pointed the right way and... 

Bonnie:  I'll take that, Ox.  Don't worry.  The Mellarks are in good hands. 

Oksana: OK.  Daddy P said he's gonna be really mad if you mess up! 

Bonnie: As he should be. 

Peeta and Ken come down separate aisles, Peeta accompanied by Oksana and Ken by Tommy.  

Wilma:  Oh, Mommy, look... 

Whitney (covering Wilma's mouth and whispering) This is why I had to talk them into letting you come.  You have to be quiet. 

Peeta spares a sad glance at the empty seats his family should be in, nearly stumbling over Oksana as he does.  He hopes no one noticed.  

Tanner and Finnick stand at the front, acting as Best Man for each of the grooms.  Mayor Rose-Grace Pike acts as officiant.   The ceremony is simple, an exchange of the traditional vows.  Oksana keeps a close eye one her aunt Bonnie, making sure Grampy Dean's family can see. 

Finnick:  Tanner designated me to make a speech for both of us, since I "do sappy stuff" better and since we have the same story.  Ken was the first person to befriend the new kids to town.  (pause) It was never a secret that Peeta was gay. Peeta says that's because he's Jewish and used to being persecuted, but really it's just that Ken's a bit of a wuss.  Took Ken almost three years to let us in on his secret.  He was afraid we'd run screaming for the hills, which was pretty stupid of him.

Ken:  Yeah, it was. 

Finnick: We were glad when  they finally hooked up after all the times we'd advised them to.  In the wise words of Frodo Dean (nods at Frodo) "You ain't gonna find anyone more compatible ever."   Some folks will say they're too young to marry, but those people do not know Peeta and Ken.  (toasts them)  Now, a few words from Miss Oksana Carson-Mellark.  Or is it Mellark-Carson?

Oksana: Just Carson.  My daddies decided that was easier.  (deep breath) The orphan house lady told me I was gonna have two daddies and I said "WHAT?" I didn't even know that sometimes boys marry boys!  Then my friend Vash got dopted by two mommies!  Anyways... I'm super happy to see my new daddies get married and promise to be a good daughter as much as I can.  Now it's Grammy Doreen's turn.

Doreen: I met Dean Mellark went he came to work at the school.  We bonded over both having been recently widowed and were happy when our sons became fast friends.  We were both delighted - if a bit surprised, to be honest - when they started dating and now I'm standing here making a speech for both of us at our boys' wedding. Now, let's stop talking and start celebrating! 

Making Plans

 Sunburst, early evening 

Whitney:  What are you guys up to tonight?  And who is this little lady? 

Peeta: We filed for an adoption, figuring we wouldn't get a kid until after the wedding.  Well, here she is!  (To Oksana)  This is our friend Whitney.  She's Tanner's girlfriend and has a little girl about your age. 

Finnick: Man, you called us down here to talk about the wedding?  Again? 

Whitney: Hey, a wedding takes a lot of planning.  You have no idea how many times we met while planning Tris's.  Probably because all Four did was show up that day.  He let her do all the work. 

Tanner:  Well, traditionally, that's how it works.  Not my fault this particular wedding has two guys! 

Whitney: Well, I certainly hope you don't think you're off the hook if we get married.  Same goes for you, Finnick.  

Oksana:  You're silly.  You can't marry both of them! 

Finnick:  My girlfriend is one of her best friends, Oksana.  (To Whitney)  Has Nakoma said something?  Because we agreed -- 

Peeta: --to wait a couple years.  For no good reason, I might add.  Nakoma is one of the wealthiest women in town and you've got a steady job.  Me and Ken are living in his mother's house! 

Finnick: Mind your own business, freeloaders.  

Ken:  Okay, we will.  I think we can make her a flower girl.  We're both coming down an aisle - side aisles instead of the center one - and this way Tommy walk with one of us as ring bearer and Oksana with the other.  You dudes of honor wait up by the altar as planned. 

Tanner: Seriously, guys, just go to Step-mom's office and have her do it there. 

Whitney:  Geez, maybe I should do all the planning if I marry you.  You're about as romantic as a kick in the shins.  

******

At another table, Dionne and Maisie go over their plans.

Dionne:  We can have girls in the north wing and boys in the south.  Center area is common ground.  

Maisie (silencing her phone): That arrangement isn't going to do much to stop gay residents from doing it.  Where do we put any non-binary or trans residents?  

Dionne: Gays don't generally get accidentally pregnant.  That's the main thing I want to prevent. 

Maisie: Dionne, I know it's a mansion, but is it really big enough to house all the foster kids in this county?  Even if you make those huge third floor spaces into wards for the preadolescents, I don't see how you can pull this off.  

Dionne:  It won't be easy.  But -- wait a minute, why aren't you taking that call?

Maisie:  It's her again.  You know if I answer, she's going to guilt me into it. 

Dionne:  Give me the phone.  I'll deal with her. 

New Folks, Old Families

 In a small park near Doll County Airport, three new arrivals claim a bench.

Oksana:  I bet my new daddies get here before your new mommies do.  

Vash: No way!  Your new mommies are old and everybody knows old people drive slow. 

Oksana: Mr. Picard, do you think it's yukky to have two mommies or two daddies?  That man on the airplane said it is.

JL: I'm sure it's none of my business.  I was asked by the agency to escort you here, since we were all coming to the same place.  I was not asked to judge anyone's morals.  

Vash: Are you calling Miss Tuesday to tell her we made it?  

JL: Yes.  Please play quietly while I do so. 

Vash: We gots to be quiet anyway because Jraff and Sleepy are having a nap.  

JL (on phone): We've arrived safely.  The families are stuck in traffic behind an accident, but they are on the way.  I will stay with the children as promised.  (Listens for a moment.)  I did have to suggest to a homophobe that he write to the government instead of frightening small children, but otherwise there's been no problem.  

JL reads up on his new hometown while the girls play, occasionally mentioning something that might interest them, until the first set of parents arrives.  Peeta handles the legalities with JL while Ken plops onto the ground beside the children.

Oksana: I told her that my daddies would beat her mommies here.  Cause they're old and you aren't.

Ken: We know the roads because we grew up here and they just moved here. Bertie and Daisy ain't so old.  Older than us, but younger than my mom.  

Vash: You know my new mommies?  Do you know my new sister, too?  (pronouncing carefully) Es-per-on-za.

Ken: Barbieville's a small town.  Pretty much everyone knows everyone.   

JL snaps a photo for the agency before releasing Oksana to their custody.  (Probably for promotional and legal purposes, but he didn't ask.)  

Oksana:  Bye-bye, Vash.  See you at school, I guess! 

Vash:  I hope we get a nice teacher.  

Peeta: She's very nice.  (elbows Ken.)  We like her a lot. 

Oksana: Oh, yeah!  I forgot, Vash, my new Grandma is gonna be our teacher!  

Vash:  That's almost as neat-o as one of my mommies being the news lady! 

Ken (points toward parking lot):  There's Vash's mommies, in that white car.  We'll point them in the right direction.

Since JL has the camera ready, The Hernandez family poses before getting down to business. 

Daisy:  We really appreciate your taking care of Vash for her trip.  It was very nice of you. 

JL: It seemed the most logical course.  A sister agency had, after all, helped me find my home here and therefore knew I was safe for them to travel with.  No need to burden airline staff with the responsibility of two excited adoptees.

Bertie: A lot of people would have refused to do it.  Are you waiting for someone to pick you up?  We could give you a ride if you don't mind squishing a bit.

JL: I was planning to call a cab, but I'd be very happy to accept a ride.  

Esperanza: So.  You're my new sister. 

Vash: Yes.  I had a big sister before, but she got dead like my old mommy and daddy.  It made me sad and scared. Some nice people helped me come here to be safe. 

Esperanza: Nowhere is safe, kid.  Some places are just safer than others, and they're usually boring.  Are you friends with that other girl?  The one Ken and Peeta adopted?  

Vash: We was at the orphan house together.  I'm happy we got adopted to the same town so we can still play together.