Thank you so much American Fantasy, dreamzspark, Gdreams, XmadlyinloveX, HogwartsDreamer113, typicalRAinbow, Nicejob-Sexy, ritergurl12, and Clara Melizafor your wonderful reviews of last chapter! And, of course, a huge thanks to those who favorited and followed this story! This oneshot will have spicy food as requested by Gdreams! Now, without future ado, here is the next chapter! Next update will be Wednesday for those curious! Feedback is greatly loved and appreciated! And for those wondering about "Of Perfume, Liquor, and Baby Bottles" expect an update for that soon as well! –Jen
Tuesday: Three Bean Chili
"Uncle Haymitch! Uncle Haymitch!"
The small, yet energetic five year old runs into the living room. From his seat on the couch, Haymitch observes the once white, cleanly pressed shirt the child sported upon his arrival is now splattered with dark stains of tomato. He raises his eyebrows, wondering if the kitchen looks as the child does. At least it isn't his own home-or, he's glad for the sake of Effie it isn't.
"I helped make the chili!" The boy beams, his green eyes sparkling. "You're going to have some, right, Uncle Haymitch?"
Haymitch would never fully understand why Bae Odair decided upon referring to him as "uncle" in the first place. He was not related in the slightest to the late Finnick Odair nor was even close to him for that matter. Yet, the boy had taken to calling he and Effie "uncle and aunt" and not even Haymitch had the heart to correct him on such titles. Though he would never admit it, he had grown quite fond of the boy after all the time he and Effie spent with him whenever Annie came to visit.
"Sure, kid," he promises and the child squeals in delight.
"Bae," Haymitch looks up to see Peeta standing in the doorway. His blond hair lays slick against his temples from sweating over the hot stove. Blue eyes lock on Haymitch and he gives a nod; Haymitch returns the gesture. "Your mother is looking for you," Peeta continues, wiping his hands on a dirty dish rag. "She wants you to wash up and change before dinner."
"Awe," whines the boy. "Do I have to?"
Peeta's lips form a smirk and he tosses the rag towards the couch. It lands with accuracy on the child's shoulder causing Bae to once again laugh in amusement. Haymitch finds himself wincing at the volume of the noise.
"The faster you do, the sooner we can enjoy that chili," and the child is off, running full speed towards the stairs before Peeta finishes.
"He has a lot of energy for a kid so young," Haymitch comments, looking over to where Bae disappeared off into. "Have a hard time enough keeping up with him as it is."
"That he does," Peeta says leaning in the doorway. There is a look of yearning in his eyes and Haymitch knows it isn't for the chili.
"Katniss still doesn't want any kids?" He asks, knowing full well it is a sensitive topic to bring up.
Peeta seems to gnaw on his lower lip, "Nah," he says. "But we're only twenty two. We have awhile to sort things out…" There's a moment of pause before anyone speaks again. "Does Effie want kids?"
"Don't know," Haymitch shrugs, not wishing to discuss such matters himself. "We're too old anyway, not like that's our biggest concern about it."
"Early to mid forties isn't such a bad age," Peeta comments. "You still have time."
Haymitch shrugs again and says nothing; the conversation ending there. It's not too long after that, that the sound of pitter pattering feet can be heard from the upstairs, growing gradually louder as they draw nearer.
"Done," calls the shrill voice of the boy. "I'm all clean!" And he reappears in the living room with company of an escort. "Aunt Effie helped me out!"
"I see," Haymitch nods, looking to Effie who, in return, offers a small smile. "Didn't meet up to her cleanliness standards, did you?"
"Nope!" Bae replies cheerfully and Haymitch cannot help but chuckle for a moment.
"He looked as if he needed a little help," Effie says with a small nod towards the boy. "And it is, after all, my specialty in looking well dressed and proper, as you know.
Haymitch grunts comprehension just as Bae lunges forward, taking a hold of his hand.
"Come on," he says, trying to tug Haymitch forward with all of his might. "Come on! Come try my chili!"
"Give him a moment, love," Effie says with a smile, "Your uncle is old after all. He needs some time to stand up."
Haymitch throws Effie a look, "I'm not that old," he mumbles.
"You sure fool me in the mornings," she says lightly and Haymitch really wishes to slap off the smirk that now blossoms on Peeta Mellark's face.
"Uncle Haymitch!" Bae whines, oblivious to the teasing in the room. "Come on!"
"Alright, kid," Haymitch mutters as Bae stills seems to tug at him relentlessly. "Let's go try that chili."
For such a large dining room it still seems somewhat crowded with Haymitch, Effie, Annie and Bae Odair, and the Mellarks only to fill it. Nevertheless, they all manage to squeeze in at the round mahogany table without too much discomfort. And once Annie has served the chili into the fine porcelain bowls of the Mellarks, food takes priority over the thoughts of tight space.
"Go on, Uncle Haymitch!" Bae urges. "Try it!"
Assuming that it cannot be as distasteful as Effie's attempts at cooking, Haymitch takes a rather large spoonful of the meal. Immediately, as the warm liquid touches his tongue, he regrets his discussion. It's as if his whole mouth is on fire, the taste of some sort of spice burning the inside of his cheeks. If it weren't for the look Effie sends him across the table-her eyes seemingly watering in pain as his own must be-he would have spit it back out without a second thought. Instead, in agony, he swallows.
"Wha…" he reaches for his glass of water, taking large gulps. It doesn't help any. "What did you put in this, kid?"
"Red pepper!" Bae replies cheerfully, not seeming to have even tried his own bowl yet. "Lots and lots and lots and lots," he takes a deep breath. "…And lots and lots and lots of red pepper!"
Haymitch glowers at Peeta across the table who merely smiles sheepishly in return. "Guess I should have been paying attention a little more."
"Don't you like it, Uncle Haymitch?" Bae asks, peering up at the old victor with wide eyes.
Haymitch presses his lips together, trying to think of a way of wording it without hurting the boy's feelings. "If I need to be revived from a heart attack, I'll definitely call upon you to make me some of this chili." And Bae smile seems to be proof enough that it worked.
"…We may have some leftover chicken from the night before if anyone would be interested in making sandwiches for lunch…" Katniss finally speaks up. "In case the," she looks over at Bae and Haymitch knows she doesn't want to hurt his feelings as he had felt. "…the chili doesn't fill us up."
And no one seems to put an argument up to that.
