71st Hunger Games

(Haymitch POV)

She was beautiful there was no denying it, she was 18, I wouldn't be doing anything illegal, however she was a tribute and she could very well be dead tomorrow. So for tonight the pros out weigh the cons, I thought as she rapped softly on the door once again. I opened it to find a disheveled blonde haired, brown eyed, Eden. "Can't sleep?" I slurred.

"I just um, I don't know, this was a bad idea." She said turning to leave.

I caught her arm, "stop second guessing yourself, you came all the way here, you might as well stay." I whispered causing her to shiver.

"I only had to walk down the hall," She laughed, her lone dimple appearing on her left cheek. I wrapped my arms around her slender abdomen and pulled her inside, she giggled wildly.

"Shh," I scolded smiling slightly myself. The last thing I needed was Effie barging in demanding an explanation. "So what can I do for you?"

"I just don't want to be alone," she replied sweetly perching her perfect ass on the edge of my bed and flopping onto her back. Her straight locks spilling across the furry comforter, t-shirt rising up slightly to expose her simple pink panties causing me to swallow loudly. I picked up the bottle I'd been drinking from and plopped down next to her. "So what do you normally do at night, seeing as you sleep all day." She teased.

"Well normally I watch tv and drink until I pass out but I was actually trying to get some sleep tonight seeing as tomorrow I'll be signing all the deals with your sponsors and trying to reel in potential prospects."

"That shouldn't take long on my end at least."

"Why's that?"

"I don't think I'll be getting many parachutes. No one's going to sponsor me."

"Eden people love you." I tell her truthfully, she's had people asking to sponsor since the reaping, most of them being horny older men, but a sponsor is a sponsor.

"Right," she scoffed rolling her eyes.

"Would I lie to you?" I asked innocently.

"Yes," she smirked.

"Yeah I guess I would", I chuckled taking another swig of white wine. Everything about her was inviting, her strawberry scented hair, her warm chocolate eyes, the innocent blush that crept across her cheeks, her soft hands, long legs, the way her breasts slowly rise and fall when she breathes, the way she always smells of daisies, but most of all her personality, her ability to make even President Snow smile with her sarcastic sense of humor.

"I don't have a chance," she sighed.

"I'll make sure you get what you need even if I have to sponsor you myself," I said forcefully. She leaned up on her elbows to look at me but I wouldn't meet her gaze.

"Since when do you care?"

"I've always cared", I sneered defensively.

"Sorry", she apologized still looking a bit surprised. "It's just hard to tell when you parade around drunk all the time."

I stood, slamming the now empty bottle on the bedside table, running my hands over my face.

"I don't want to fight Haymitch."

"You could have fooled me", I brushed her off.

She sighed prying my hands from my face. We stared at each other for a moment before she leaned up and kissed me lightly. I grabbed the back of her head, some what forcefully, holding her there. Her hands went to my face, caressing it softly. "There is one thing I want to do before I die." She whispered around my lips. I arched an eyebrow before kissing her again, massaging her scalp. She sighed molding her body to mine. I ran my hand down her back squeezing her ass causing her to moan softly into my mouth. I laid her slowly on the bed, she wrapped her smooth legs around my waist, inviting me closer. She fumbled with the buttons on my shirt and eventually managing to slide it over my shoulders, playing with the the hair on my chest, which repulsed most women but caused her to smile.

"What?" I asked.

"It's just so Haymitch", she replied continuing to run her fingers through it.

Kissing her was unlike anything else, it made my feel young, happy even. She was inexperienced that much was clear, sometimes she forgot to breathe, then about thirty seconds later she would break away gasping for air. But after a while her swollen pink lips moved with mine instead of against them. I removed her shirt in one fluid motion, she gasped as I ran a hand under her bra over her bare breasts. Knowing I was the only one to touch her like this brought me a satisfaction that I'd never felt before, not even when I won the games. I unhooked the offensive piece of clothing and tossed it across the room before bringing her rosy nipple between my lips, sucking it lightly.

"Haymitch", she whimpered grabbing my hair roughly.

"Carefully angel, I don't have much left," I teased. Her grip loosened slightly but not enough for me to go far. I alternated breasts lightly nipping and sucking.

"Haymitch," She breathed pulling my lips back to her's, while I slid out of my pants and boxers. She blushed looking hesitantly at my erection before slowly taking it into her hand, stoking it gently. My eyes rolled back in pleasure as I kissed her, tearing her panties from her body.

"Last chance", I told her positioning myself at her wet entrance. She closed her eyes exhaling slowly as I began to slide into her, I kissed her neck, she clawed at my back as I pushed past her barrier. I paused once I was fully inside her, the noises she made told me that she was in pain. "Just tell me when."

She nodded wordlessly trying to regain her composure, her eyes still squeezed shut. Looking down at her I realized that under different circumstances I would have loved her. Maybe if she comes back I would try despite my fear that she would be taken away from me just as my family had.

(Eden's POV)

"Haymitch", I cried launching myself into his arms after stepping off the hovercraft.

"Nice job angel", he whispered kissing my tangled hair. I must have smelt atrocious but he didn't seem to mind. We stood like that for what felt like hours, just holding each other never wanting to let go. He led me back to his room on the train, I stripped down and climbed into the warm shower, selecting the cycle with as much soap and shampoo as possible scrubbing off the layers of filth I'd acquired during the games. I dried off with the soft towel and dressed in the clothes Haymitch had laid out for me. Allowing my hair to air dry I stepped into the bed room expecting to find him there instead I was greeted by only a crumpled piece of paper with bar car scribbled on it. I sighed flopping down on the bed, he won't miss me much if I take a nap I think flipping on the tv to a channel showing something not related to the Hunger Games and let myself drift to sleep.

(Present Day Eden's POV)

"Up," I demanded jumping on the bed next to his sleeping form.

"Give me minute to wake up angel," He growled, his baby blue eyes open to meet mine as he wiped drool from his blonde stubble that still smelled of vomit, his shoulder length hair acting like a curtain between us as he grumbled a few obscenities before pushing himself off the bed, he dropped his boxers before he reached the bathroom. I picked them up and threw them down the laundry shoot. You'd think that after almost three years we'd learn not to go out of our way to annoy each other but somehow it was a fundamental element in our relationship. I slipped into the silk lilac dress I was wearing to the reaping giving a quick once over to the black slacks and dark purple shirt I'd bought for Haymitch, I lit a cigarette and stepped onto the balcony letting the pink smoke and cotton candy flavor engulf me. My blonde hair, hung in curls to my waist, parts were twisted back making the style appear more complex than it truly was, it tickled my bare back as the dress had no material until right above my butt, just a diamond chain running from my neck down to the small of my back. The front dipped down to show casing my cleavage. My make up consisted of light purple eye shadow, long fake black eye lashes, red blush, and a simple pink lips. Shockingly enough this was considered a conservative look.

"Must we always match?" He asked turning his nose up at the outfit.

"The President seems to like when we do, it really gets the people going," I teased turning to face him, exhaling the pink cloud of smoke through my nose.

"It's disgusting when you do that," he said his strong arms encircling me.

"It's also disgusting when you pass out in a pool of your own vomit, I have to clean it out of your chest hair and then tuck you into bed but you don't see me complaining," I muttered.

He fake coughed and fanned the air around him.

"Please," I scoffed rolling my eyes.

"Happy Hunger Games," He teased kissing me before going to find some food or possible a drink.

"May the odds be ever in your favor," I called after him finishing my cigarette and closing the french doors behind me. I walked into the kitchen to grab a quick bite before we were summoned to the justice building. We held hands as we entered the stage, as the cameras paned over us I tried not to think about what was really going here. The female tribute and her younger sister were familiar, I'd seen them many times over the years when I brought food and other necessities to the families in the seam who couldn't afford them. I never did catch their names but now they were seared into my mind forever, Katniss and Primrose Everdeen. However the boy, Peeta Mellark, was a complete stranger but he looked strong, maybe between the two of them district 12 would have a winner. Last year both tributes were only twelve and underfed. Despite my best effort they were both gone within the first eight hours. Haymitch stumbled forward to congratulate the lucky pair while I stood frozen unable to move. He did a head dive off the stage onto the soil landing with a grumble. I ran down the steps to collect him while people snickered.

"Eden", he said a bit confused.

"Come on, lets get you up," I offered my hand to him.

"Can do it myself," He slurred standing up only to topple over again.

"Of course you can", I scoffed leading him into the car which would take us to the train station.

"Ah the dynamic duo has arrived," Effie smiled as we enter the dining car where she and the tributes waited.

"I'm just gonna put him to bed, he won't be much help to any of us in this condition." I say, they nodded as I attempt to escort Haymitch to our room. I tossed him on the bed and pulled off his shoes.

"Sorry," He said knowing I was upset with him for being drunk when I need him for support.

"It's fine," I mutter, throwing the blanket over him.

"Head hurts," I leaned down and kissed the bruise that was forming on his forehead.

"Lips hurt," he smiled, I placed a chased kiss on his waiting lips. I left what could only be described as a baby monitor on the bed side table. Maybe I was paranoid but at least I knew he wouldn't suffocate in his own bile.

"I really am sorry angel."

"We're supposed to be a team," I told him, the disappointment obvious in my voice.

"I'll do better," He promised. I nodded skeptically turning off the light and leaving him to wallow in the darkness. When I returned to the dining car Effie was relieved to see me.

"Sorry about him", I say slipping into the blue satin chair across from Peeta and Katniss. I shook both of their hands introducing myself. "I'm Eden," I smile.

"I remember you, you bring us food on Wednesdays," Katniss said. I nodded..

"So when do we start?" Peeta asked.

"Tomorrow is the tribute parade, after that you'll have the choice to train separately or as a team. Haymitch would train you and I'd train Katniss traditionally but we could switch it up if you'd like it's really all up to you," I tell them a loud snore from the monitor causing everyone to laugh as I explain why I had it.

"I remember the first time I seen the two of you together, I thought it has to be some kind of publicity stunt because there is no way that girl would put up with him. But you must love him to listen to him snore for hours just to make sure he's ok." Peeta says shaking him head.

"I do", I laughed and with that we parted ways until dinner. I strolled back to our room, the automatic doors opened revealing an unconscious Haymitch lying spread eagle on the bed. I plucked another pink cigarette from the pack and lit it searching for something interesting on tv only to find preview clips of the reaping recap that would air tonight, Haymitch flipping off the stage I laughed, so maybe it was funny in retrospect. Our nineteen year age difference was becoming more prominent when I saw myself kneeling beside him. His light blonde hair now showed hints of gray by each ear and wrinkles formed around his eyes and mouth when he smiled and between his brows. Then there was me still beautiful and relatively untouched by age. I slipped into a pair of leggings and a simple blue lace shirt, releasing my hair and letting the now loose waves fall around my face. I sat in the reclining chair for about twenty minutes, reading a book titled "Victor to Champion" which gave helpful hints to mentors, before dozing off.

"Dinner," Effie called. When neither of us responded she pounded on the door with her tiny fists.

"Coming," Haymitch yelled tossing a pillow her direction as if she was an annoying alarm clock. He pulled himself from the bed and flicked on the light. He touched my face tenderly as he passed me on the way to the bathroom. I followed him catching the door with my foot. I turned to the mirror assessing the damage to my hair before combing through it a couple of times and wiping the smudged make up from under my eyes.

"At least put the seat down," I scolded as he strolled out of the room flipping me off as he went.

"Love you," he called exiting the room without waiting for a response. I heard the doors close behind him.

"I love you too," I whispered to the empty space. "Haymitch wait," I yelled entering the hallway. He spun to face me. "Am I doing something wrong?" I asked as he walked back toward me.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you still love me?"

"I just said so didn't I?" He says cocking his head to the side.

"Yeah but then you left before I could say it back like you didn't care," I argued.

"You don't have to say it back I already know," He replied closing the space between us.

"Lately I just feel like you don't want to be around me."

"Where else am I gonna go? You're it for me, I have no family or friends to speak of, just you." He shrugged simply.

"We could have a family," I whispered catching him off guard causing him to stumble backward slightly. "I didn't mean to say that out loud." I pushed quickly past him before he could respond.

"There you are," Effie says as I approached the table.

"Here I am," I posed causing everyone to laugh before taking one of the empty seats at the head of the table. We ate in silence until Haymitch entered carrying fresh bottle of liquor along with him, his eyes where red and puffy as if he'd been crying.

"So what'd I miss?" He asked looking down at us. I quickly looked at my plate staring at my food is if it had become the most interesting thing in the world.

"I can move if you want to sit next to each other," Peeta offered.

"No that's ok, you've already started eating, and Eden doesn't want to sit next to me anyway, do you baby," He teased. I blushed uncomfortably under his glare. He laughed prodding Katniss with his elbow she smiled awkwardly back at him. I tried not to meet his eyes while we finished dessert and entered the entertainment compartment to watch the recap of the reapings across Panem. We sized up the competition in silence, only a few faces stuck with me, the careers of course, the boy with a crippled foot from district 10, and the tiny dark skinned girl from district 11 who couldn't have weighed more than 80 pounds. A lump rose in my throat, I swallowed roughly.

"Oh Eden you look just darling." Effie gushed as the reaping in district 12 was replayed in the screen. "Now if only you could teach your... Haymitch about televised behavior." She continued unsure of what to call him.

"He was drunk, he's drunk every year," Peeta laughed a bit unexpected, normally I was the only one who tried to defend him.

"Everyday," Katniss added, a small smile playing at her lips.

"How odd the two of you find this amusing. He is your lifeline in these games, they can well be the difference between your life and your death!" She exclaimed in exasperation.

"I'll take care of it myself if I have to," I said a bit defensively.

"Yeah", Katniss and Peeta agreed.

"She can't take care of you because she spends every waking moment taking care of him." She yelled motioning to Haymitch who had fallen over and puked on the expensive carpet. "So laugh away!" She shrieked scurrying away to her room

"Haymitch," I sighed tapping his face lightly but it was no use he was unconscious. With the help of Peeta and Katniss I managed to drag him into our compartment and into our bathroom. I turned on the water and made sure it wasn't too hot.

"It's ok, you can go now," I told them, Katniss turned quickly to leave but Peeta stayed.

"I'll help you get him into the tub, then it's all you," he said as I began to strip down Haymitch.

"Eden", he muttered in his sleep reaching out and grabbing my breast.

"I'm here," I assured him.

Peeta and I tossed him into the tub.

"Well I guess I'll see you guys in the morning," Peeta said standing up to leave.

"Hopefully," I laughed looking at Haymitch. "Thank you Peeta."

"You scratch my back I scratch your's," He replied.

"Hmm?"

"I owed you one."

"I don't follow," I say becoming more confused.

"You fed my Katniss when I couldn't, I carried your Haymitch when you couldn't." He said simply.

"Your Katniss?" Now it all made sense, the way he looked at her. "You love her don't you?"

"Good night Eden", he smirked turning to leave.

"Good night Peeta," I called after him. I heard the door close behind him. There were so many thing I wanted to tell Haymitch but I could never gather up the courage. But I suppose there was no better time than now seeing as even if he does wake up he won't remember in the morning. I used the loofah on the counter to scrub the vomit from his chest, however I used my hand to wash his face gently. "I hate you," I told him. "I'm tired of taking care of you, I want you to take care of me sometimes. I love you but I'm lonely, I need something more. I want to grow up Haymitch and I want you to grow up too. I want you to be here with me, not in a drunken slumber," I sobbed, somewhere in the middle of all of this I'd began to cry. I peeled off my clothes and straddled him throwing my arms around his neck. "I need you," I cried desperate for a response, nothing. I finished washing him up before draining the water from the tub and drying off with the soft blue towel on the rack. I had to spray him with cold water to finally wake him, he was pissed but it did the trick. I slid under the cover next to him, he threw his arm over my waist curling around the back of my naked body. I let out a loud sob finally getting his attention.

(Haymitch's POV)

"Please, please, please," She begged, her cheeks stained with tears.

"Please what angel?"

"Please, Haymitch, please," she cried this time more frantically.

"Ok! What ever you want it's yours, just tell me what you want," I pleaded taking her face in my hands trying to wipe away the tears but each time I got rid of one another would take it's place.

"I want you to stop drinking, I want you to grow up, I want to get married we've been together for almost three years and still nothing," she said.

"Eden look in my coat pocket," I instructed.

"Haymitch I'm serious."

"So am," I replied nudging her slightly.

She walked grudgingly over to it digging around in the pocket for a minute before fishing out the midnight blue velvet box. Sniffling while she dried her eyes walking over to rejoin me on the bed. "Is this for me?"

"Who else would it be for?" I laughed. "So are you going to open it."

She popped open the lid, her sweet brown eyes lit up at the sight of the 9-carrot princess cut diamond that glimmered even in the dark room. "Oh", she whispered, tears still running down her cheek despite her attempts to stop them.

"I'm not getting any younger so I figure we might as well try this whole ball and chain thing while you're still interested," I tell her. "So what do you say? Marry me?"

"Of course", She smiled, I slid the ring onto her left hand. "Is this why you've been acting so weird, because you were trying to keep this a secret?"

I nodded, "I thought you knew, when you said that thing in the hallway about having a family. It's not that I don't want to I just worry about them going to the games." I confess.

"Well their odds will be better than ours, they wouldn't have to take out tesserae."

"Before the child of a victor turns 18 their name makes up 25 percent of the bowl, the child of two victors... the odds won't be in their favor, I don't want that for our kids." I told her.

"But I want them", she replied a bit selfishly.

"Fine," I agreed. The thought of a tiny blonde haired brown eyed child running around did cross my mind now and again but I would quickly brush it off now I don't have to. She straddled me quickly. "No need to rush angel, I'm not going anywhere," I chuckled.

"I know," she smiled kissing me gingerly. I ran a hand over her bare ass squeezing it roughly. "You on top," she growled. I flipped us over, she threw her head back as I thrust into her quickly leaving her neck exposed, I took full advantage sucking and biting the skin there, sure to leave a hickey. "I love you Haymitch," she purred tugging at my hair.

"I love you too angel," I panted bringing my lips back to her's, then I hitched her right leg above my hip eliciting a particularly loud moan from her swollen pink lips which I swallowed with my own. I reached between us to massage her clit.

"Haymtich," she cried as she reached her climax. In a few pumps I released inside her placing a kiss on her sweaty forehead. Before pulling out and rolling over beside her. She turned to look at me smiling wildly, her dimple more prominent than usual.

"Cigarette?" I offered holding out the pack I'd bought for her earlier.

"Yes," she sighed plucking a blue cigarette from the pack. "Blueberry", she said lighting it and inhaling, the sickly sweet smoke filling the room. I flicked on the bathroom light and took a much needed piss before crawling back into bed and flipping on the tv. Eden was already asleep on her back with the cigarette still between her lips, I plucked it from her mouth and put it out in the ash tray. There was a documentary on about the victors of district 12, I suppose because of the girl volunteering at the reaping, I watched the thirty minute recap of my interviews, games, and victory tour. Then it was all about Eden. During opening ceremonies she was completely naked covered only in black coal, although I knew this made her uncomfortable you couldn't tell while she waved and smiled at the audience as the chariot pulled her and Lennox, the male tribute from district 12 forward. It was interesting I had to admit but it was one of my least favorite arenas, there was no wood for fire only the icy tundra that spans for miles. Without sponsorship she wouldn't have stood a chance, that much was clear, more than half of the tributes froze to death that year. There was a little boy named Ty, who was only 13, that she'd tried to protect, sharing her sleeping bag, food, and whatever else she got but the odds weren't in his favor. He caught pneumonia and died soon after. However the wasn't what people remembered her for, when it came down to her and the large career boy from district 1 he threw his sword narrowly missing her and sticking in a nearby tree. They raced for it but she got there first running him threw. He fell to the ground coughing up blood, she grabbed his hand and he held it tightly.

"I'm sorry." She said.

"It was you or me, I can't say I wouldn't do the same," He tried to smile. "My name is Chamberlain by the way," I supposed he was trying to lighten the mood.

"I had to, I'm sorry," She sobbed again.

"What's your name?" He asked.

"Eden."

"Are you an angel?" He reached up to caress her face.

"No," She smiled through the tears.

"Oh."

"Maybe if I apply pressure you'll be ok." She cried taking off her jacket and pressing it to his wounded chest.

"I'm glad it was you."

"Why?"

"It least I have something pretty to look at", he managed to choke out before the final cannon sounded.

This exchange seemed some what odd to the people of the capitol who were trained to be blood thirsty. During the clips of her victory tour her stylists almost always dressed her to look like a baby doll, poofy pastel dresses made up her entire wardrobe, her hair was always curled with some type of ribbon and a couple times even put in two braids the way it had been in the arena. Pink lips, dark long lashes, and a surplus of blush on the apples of her cheeks made her appear years younger than she truly was. But she was beautiful, even Snow commented on that which was why our relationship had come as such a shock to the public. During the last five minutes there was a montage of clips of us together, Eden smiling brightly with my arm slung over her shoulder looking completely haggard. Our age difference was more noticeable than ever before as I saw myself fall from the stage at the reaping, she knealed beside me looking perfect as ever. I however looked old, wrinkled, and decrepit as I struggled to my feet only to topple over again. Then there was a sound clip from an interview we'd done a few months ago. "Haymitch is my polar opposite, I think that's why we work so well together." She said.

"Well I have to say, Haymitch, I imagined you with someone a bit more ag gressive," Caesar says, his pink eyebrows raised.

"I don't need a girl with fight, I have enough fight for the both of us. I need a girl who chases rainbows and makes kissy faces at puppies," I replied smartly causing the audience to roar with laughter. Then there was a final picture of us kissing, her right leg popped up in the air, before the screen went black. I couldn't help but laugh at the way they presented our relationship, in reality it was a far cry from perfect. We fought a lot, I yelled, she cried, somethings slapped me but then there were times like tonight when we were both genuinely happy together.