"Do you think they'll like it?" Haymitch asked, weaving a string of lights around the fence of the Victors Village.
After their discussions the night before, Peeta had gone up into the attic of his and Katniss' house to see if he could find anything up there that could be of any use to their Christmas plans. He had ended up finding a string of lights, which had reminded him of the Christmas card he had received from Effie two years ago. It had featured a picture of a Christmas tree in the centre of the City Circle, decorated with thousands of tiny lights. As much as he hated the Capitol, Peeta had to admit that all the lights were beautiful and certainly added some festive spirit to the place.
He had knocked on Haymitch's door early in the morning and told his former mentor what he had found, and they had been outside decorating for most of the day. They asked Katniss to keep Effie distracted, though exactly what she was keeping her from they didn't say. It would be nice to surprise her, too.
"I hope so." Peeta replied, placing small, individual lights around the primroses he had planted back when he first returned to District 12.
They planned to wait until it was dark to turn the lights on, and it was rather helpful for that reason that the lights were so small and the strings so fine. Unless you were deliberately looking for them, it was almost impossible to find them. And indeed, when Katniss and Effie returned from the meadow later, Katniss having suggested they spend some time out there before the good weather turned, they didn't notice anything different.
It wasn't until after dinner that Haymitch and Peeta suggested that they all go outside as it was a clear night, with a bright full moon shining high in the sky. Effie and Katniss were clearly confused by this, but they were curious enough that they followed the men.
They stepped outside, shivering slightly at the cold air. The light coming from the moon and the stars bathed the area in a soft, white glow. Then, Peeta quietly pressed a switch, and suddenly the Victors Village was lit up by hundreds of tiny lights. Katniss and Effie gasped, and even Peeta and Haymitch were taken aback by just how beautiful it all looked.
Haymitch stepped up behind Effie, who was staring around in awe. He wrapped his arms around her, kissing her cheek softly as she leaned back against him.