Okay so I apologize again for my last fanfic and for posting this late. But I'm kinda proud of what I wrote now. My inspiration somehow only flows in the night lol.

This is a remake of my last AU, in where Peeta is reaped and Haymitch volunteers instead. But this shows the events after that in a short way. Hope you like it :)

The Third Quarter Quell

01.

Peeta Mellark is reaped. Haymitch Abernathy volunteers.

With everyone watching her, Effie Trinket falls apart.

02.

Victors and crowd share their District 12-like goodbyes. Without no real goodbye.

They are dragged by peacekeepers into the train. Katniss Everdeen screams hysterically to her little sister, and the escort actually joins her.

Left alone, Haymitch and Effie start a fight that ends with tears and a hug.

And a misterious warning.

03.

Tribute Parade starts. 12's team shows with fire and fiercy actittude.

Effie can't help but stare at his now tribute and hope for a impossible miracle to happen. Don't die on me.

04.

She starts spying other people conversations, discovering rumors about what's going on in Panem.

What sends shivers down her spine is the word "war".

05.

She asks Cinna what's happening, but he denies her the possibility to know.

As a friend, the stylist just says it's to protect her.

Still, Effie's determination doesn't stop.

06.

One night, after the training, she finds Haymitch reunited with other victors in the middle of the night. In a dead place. With almost no lights.

The man explains her that they were only colleagues drinking their last moments of peace.

She doesn't believe him at all.

He tells her to be careful.

07.

Training scores.

12 to both tributes from District 12.

She looks at him surprised.

He explains the gamemakers did it on purpose.

That's not what she meant with her look.

He only shrugs.

Maybe Abernathy wasn't as bad as everyone thought.

08.

The interviews start, so Peeta and her are sitting together in the crowd.

Caesar Flickerman presents Katniss and it's like everyone is holding their breaths. The wedding dress turns into a mockingjay one and the world stops.

Effie shots a worried glance to Cinna, who only returns her a sad smile.

Now the people are cheering to him, but the rest knows better.

Cinna is dead man.

Then Haymitch appears and when Caesar asks him about his tribute's wedding, he drops the last bomb: the kids are married. Katniss is pregnant.

Peeta nods at him in approval.

The escort is confused.

09.

She asks Peeta about it. Everything is fake. Don't worry.

The boy is now mentor. They say their last goodbyes to Katniss and Haymitch. Effie cries. We're a team, aren't we?

Before Peeta leaves, his ex-mentor looks serious talking to him.

Secrets.

10.

Effie shows at Haymitch's door at 2 A.M. Haymitch gives her a strange but genuine smile and lets her in.

"More questions for me, princess?" he whispers.

A simple nod turns into various nods and they turn into shakes. Tears start flowing again and he grabs her hand. Maybe it's instinct. Maybe a message.

They look into each other's eyes and before she thinks twice she's kissing him for the first and last time. The kiss is returned.

"Stay alive. Okay, sweetheart?"

That makes him laugh. He kisses her hand and that's the only answer she needs.

But still, destiny leaves them heartbroken in a new way.

11.

The games start.

Cinna doesn't appear.

Cinna is dead. She knows it.

Peeta notices too, so he squeezes her hand.

They're ready to fight now.

12.

Days pass.

An alliance is formed between 12 and 4, but the dear Mags dies. Suddenly the group finds Johanna Mason with 3 team.

Tick tock. The arena is a clock. Tick tock. Wiress is dead. Tick tock. Spinning.

The arena is a hell.

13.

Jabberjays appear. Screams.

Katniss, Finnick and even Haymitch run blinded by the fake voices of Primrose Everdeen, Annie Cresta, and Effie Trinket.

She founds herself by Peeta's side -who was screaming at the TV- when everyone believes the screams are theirs.

Peeta is the next for Katniss and Haymitch.

The birds scream again and again to Katniss until she breaks down.

14.

They find Chaff alone, who joins them.

Beetee's suggests a mortal plan to their enemies.

Literally, because when the wire breaks and Katniss reminds who the real enemy is, the arena explodes.

Chaos. Static.

Plutarch Heavensbee appears and tells them to trust him.

In the hovercraft, she prays that Haymitch is alive.

And he is.