It's been a year since the rebellion ended. Haymitch sits out on the porch drinking a glass of liquor. He tries his best to lessen his drinking.
"It's a new era. I must also renew myself, too," he thinks.
He takes small sips from his glass and stares at the moon like staring at a white porcelain plate placed on a white dotted, dark blue table cloth. The lonely moon reminds him of those depressing past events which flashes on his mind like a video montage- from the day of his reaping in the 50th Hunger Games to the aftermath of the deaths in the rebellion.
"It won't happen again," he assures himself after taking another sip.
Sniff
He gets a little startled and looks at the door behind him. He sees Katniss-not as the the rebel mockingjay with the stoic face , keeping strong for everyone, but a girl, so vulnerable. Her eyes are puffy an her face is drenched in sweat and tears. She's hugging a pillow and staring at Haymitch as if she had also seen his flashbacks.
"Nightmares again, sweetheart?"
Katniss nods. Usually Peeta comforts her when she had those nightmares, but Peeta was out today due to some important business regarding the rebuilding of Panem. At first, Katniss wanted to help badly, but Peeta told her to take it easy sometimes and asked Haymitch to "babysit" her. Neither Katniss nor Haymich was for the idea but due to Peeta's moving words, Haymitch and Peeta ended up with a silent agreement not to bother each other.
Katniss sniffles again. After some seconds of silence, Haymitch motioned Katniss to come closer. Haymitch expected a hug but Katniss sits on his lap instead. He grunts a bit because Katniss sat on him hard either due to the longing for comfort or she purposely harms Haymitch a bit. Katniss leans on Haymitch's chest, her eyes distant and sad. Haymitch isn't really the comforting type because most of what he ever did to Katniss was make fun of her, make sarcastic remarks or just plainly piss her off. He tries anyway by brushing her hair away from her face and gently stroking her hair since it's what he observes some people do to comfort. Katniss face melts from a lamenting and fearful expression to a relaxed and secured. She was able to close her eyes. Then, she slowly lifts her legs, folds it and rests it Haymitch's lap. She uses her hands as a feels a little awkward with Katniss on his lap but he just continues to stroke her hair until Katniss yawns a little and drifts off to sleep. He eventually smiles at her. He looked amused at Katniss cradled in his lap like a baby. Even though he knew that she's asleep, he continues to stroke her hair. He had always been attached somehow to the tributes no matter how cold he may seem, but this was different.
For once he knew what it was like to be a father.