I don't own Hunger Games.
Haymitch sat outside the room, his fingers woven together. His foot tapped an strange rhythm, one that popped out of his head. He looked to the door again, no one stepped out. He sighed and looked around. The home was well, homey. Pictures lined the walls, the pictures of him and the young couple in there currently. A few achingly familiar faces popped up every once and a while. A pale painted face jumped out at him. Effie. He thought sadly. He looked down the hall, watching Effie;s face turn more of a normal color as the pictures went on. His hair grayed a little more in each as well, all of them growing up.
One picture poked out to him more then most. It was of four people, him, Effie and, the couple, standing in front of this very house. The couple's faces were split with a grin each. They had bought the house, closer to Haymitch and Effie's houses. That was two years ago. He didn't know why this one stuck out but it did. another of him and just the girl in there, in labor, poked out. He had his slender arm tossed around her dark shoulders, a grin on each face. He remember the day that picture was taken.
It was a warm, spring day. He and Katniss were going out into the forest. They did it all the time to talk. Today though, Katniss had tow bows slung across her back. They weren't talking either. Katniss was going to teach how to hunt better. Haymitch could do it well but, not Katniss well. Peeta was working at his bakery, as usual. Effie was at her home, designing. So, it was just Haymitch and Katniss.
"Okay, ready?" Katniss asked, turning to him. Haymitch nodded and held a hand out.
"Born ready sweetheart." He grinned, flicking some hair out of his face. Katniss chuckled and handed him a bow. Like her;s, it was hand made, every last part of it. Down to the tool that carved it. He held it gingerly, agraid he was going to break it. Katniss chuckled at this.
"It won't break, Haymitch." She told him, pulling at the string on her's, Haymitch nodded, embarrassed. They stalked through the forest silently, their boots barely stirring the long dead leaves on the ground. Katniss held her hand up, to halt Haymitch. A deer was in front of them, a buck. Haymitch crouched low, an instinct he hadn't known since, Those days, started to fill him. Katniss knocked her bow and watched the deer. Its ears flicked around, listening. Katniss shot. The arrow sailed and struck the deer in the eye. The animal crumpled and the two hunters went to it.
"Nice shooting sweetheart." Haymitch complimented. Katniss grew red. They hauled the deer away and set out again. This time, it was Haymitch;s turn. He gulped as he led the huntress through her forest. He paused when he saw a large rabbit nibbling. He looked back at Katniss and she nodded. He knocked his bow and watched the rabbit. Its head was up now, turning madly. Haymitch narrowed his eyes and shot. The arrow sunk clumsily into the rabbit's eye. He grinned like mad and turned to Katniss, she grinned at him. He rushed out to grab his rabbit. He pulled the arrow out slowly and cleaned it. He picked the rabbit up and grinned again.
"Nice shot sweetheart." Katniss sneered. The two went back, not wanting to hunt much more. Effie met them at their houses a grin on her face.
"You went hunting!" She called, waving. The two nodded. Effie pushed her hands together, he sign for "picture" The two sighed and slung their arms around each other's shoulders and grinned.
Haymitch smiled at the picture. It was the last picture taken before Katniss became pregnant. Most of the pictures taken between then and now were Peeta and Katniss. Haymitch loved them both but, the amount of pictures Effie took with the two were annoying. Haymitch had helped with the building of a crib and painting, always happy to help. He would then hide in his house and drink. He didn't drink as much as he use to but, he still went through a couple bottles a week.
Wonder how much longer. He thought, tapping his feet again. Suddenly, the door opened. Peeta;s head poked out, tears shining in his eyes. Oh no. Was his first thought. "What;s wrong? What happened?" Haymitch cried, standing. Peeta shook his head.
"Nothing. Nothing bad happened. Katniss is really tired though." He informed him, slumping in a chair. "Taking a break." He told his friend. Haymitch nodded. "You could come in you know." Peeta told him, looking at the pictures. Haymitch shrugged.
"I'd feel in the way." He replied. Truth was, he was scared. More scared then when he watched them go back into the Arena. More scared hen when he thought Katniss hated him, or when he thought she died. More scared then his own time in the Arena. Peeta nodded and closed his eyes.
"I'm scared." Peeta whispered. Haymitch looked at him, surprised. "What if one of them doesn't make it? What if the baby dies in a few months? What if-" He paused and gulped. Haymitch knew what he was thinking. What if a million things. What if the worse thing to happen to us all? Haymitch had these thoughts already.
"Don't worry, nothing will happen." Haymitch reassured him. Peeta shrugged.
"Only one way to find out." Peeta sighed, standing up. He slipped back in, leaving Haymitch in silence.
Three more hours before Peeta came back out, tears streaming down his face now. "Haymitch." He breathed. The older man stood and burst into the room. The midwife was fussing, as was Effie. Katniss looked up, her hair a mess.
"Lookin prety sweetheart." Haymitch teased. Katniss raised a middle finger.
"Katniss!" Effie cried. Katniss chuckled. She waved a hand at Haymitch. He went to her side.
"Haymitch, meet my daughter." Katniss whispered, holding her out. Haymitch sucked in a breath as he curled his arms around the small bundle. He only saw Katniss in the child, her face looked of one that could defy the world. He smiled at her and swung softly.
"She's so pretty, Katniss." Haymitch whispered, he could feel a prick behind his eyes he'd hadn't felt in years. Katniss was silent as she watched Haymitch with her daughter. Peeta was watching too, nothing but love in his eyes. Effie snapped a picture, a smile on her face. Haymitch didn't care, all he cared about was the life in his arms. He held her for what felt like a year before handing her back. "Good job sweetheart and loverboy." He sneered at them both. Peeta laughed.
"Katniss, would like to tell Haymitch?" Peeta asked, moving back to her side.
"Tell me what?" He asked cautiously. Katniss looked to her child and up at him.
"We named you godfather." She told him, a smile on her lips. Haymitch felt something break in him. He started to cry. Not cold, sad tears but, warm happy tears. Effie snapped another picture. Haymitch grinned at his two friends.
"Thank you so much." He almost sobbed. Katniss held her daughter out again. Haymitch picked her up gingerly. He held her, muttering promises to her. "I promise, I won't touch anymore alcohol as long as you;re not a brat. I'll be there. unlike my father. You have good parents. You have a good family." He Smiled. He looked to the midwife and Effie. He pressed two fingers together. Effie's eyes widened as she realized what he wanted. She handed the camera to the midwife and hustled over. The four adults leaned in, all of them with a hand on the baby. The midwife too the picture and handed the camera to Effie. The midwife left.
The pictue was copied five times. A copy was hung over the child;s crib, another right over Haymitch's bed, the picture of him crying with the child in his arms in his pocket, he took it out each time he looked at the bottle. It made him remember, his promise. Never did another drop pass his lips.