HEY! It's Tuesday, which mean it's time for your weekly update! I am twenty-five chapters in, and the Quarter Quell is about to start. But I'm getting ahead of myself. For you all it's only chapter 4 LOL. I hope you all enjoy it! Let me know what you all think.

-thamockingjayandpeeta

CHAPTER FOUR

Words: 2,256

Effie whispered a few more tips and encouraging words to Peeta and Katniss, and then sent them off.

"Their outfits are once again impeccable," Effie commented to Cinna and Portia. "You two outdid yourselves."

"They're Cinna's designs," said Portia, glancing at Cinna, and the admiration reflected in her eyes was evident. "I just work off of his brilliance."

"We work off of each others," and Portia's light brown face flushed flirtatiously. Cinna walked up to her, holding out his arm. "Shall we?"

It was like Effie and Haymitch didn't even exist.

"They are adorable," Effie sighed once Cinna and Portia were on the elevator.

"I thought you had a thing for Cinna," said Haymitch.

Effie threw back her head and laughed. "Don't be silly. Cinna is simply divine, as is Portia. But I don't doubt she'd skin me alive if she thought for a single moment I was after Cinna."

While the other Tributes started their Interviews, Effie pulled Haymitch away and they made their way to another level in order to watch the Interviews.

"I can tell by the look on your face that it didn't go well with Katniss," she said, her voice questioning.

"Katniss is… she's…" he scowled, his eyes darkening. "She'll a drive a man to drink, she will. She's stubborn, and self-righteous, and down right uncoachable. And what the fuck are you smiling you at?"

Effie couldn't even chastise him for his bad language; she was too amused. "She's just like you," and she couldn't quite hide the affection in her voice. "It must be a Seam thing."

"Watch it, Trinket."

"I'm not insulting you, Haymitch," sighed Effie, no longer smiling. "Her being like you is quite the compliment. Yes, you're both stubborn, hard to talk to, self-righteous, and have wicked tempers. But you're also both smart, resourceful, and strong." She noticed his top button was undone and started to button it, even though she knew he'd undo it again shortly. "There's nothing terribly wrong with being like Haymitch Abernathy. You, after all, are a Victor."

Having finished buttoning his shirt, she walked out of the elevator and into the suite without so much as a backwards glance.

XxXxXxXx

They watched the rest of the Interviews together in silence, only muttering to both the other and themselves when a particular Tribute caught their attention.

"The Careers are—"

"Brilliant, as usual," agreed Haymitch, rolling his eyes and taking a sip of his wine.

"That Rue is simply to die for though, isn't she?"

Haymitch snorted. "Literally," and she shot him a nasty look. "Katniss told me that Rue was following her during training."

"Maybe they'll be allies," said Effie thoughtfully.

"That'd be a plus for Rue," Haymitch said, and Effie decided that he was trying to upset her, so she shut up. "I'm yanking your chain, Princess."

"Stop calling me that."

"I remember that Rue scored a seven," continued Haymitch, as if she hadn't said anything." Then a short pause, and a quick glance. "Princess."

She wanted to take a bottle and smash it over his head, but she refused to give him the satisfaction, no matter how tempting.

Their banter quickly ended and a nervous energy surrounded them once Katniss' face appeared on the screen.

But they figured out early on that they didn't need to be worried. Katniss was absolutely charming, and she had the audience eating out of the palm of her hands. Not before a few mishaps, of course, but that was okay.

"It doesn't seem like you two were at odds at all!" exclaimed Effie as she kept listening.

"That… wasn't me." He shook his head and took another sip of his wine. "Trust me…. It was probably—" Realization dawned upon him then. "Cinna," he finished.

Effie smiled, her focus still on the television. "God bless that man," she said softly, though Haymitch still heard.

He didn't quite hide his scowl.

As Caesar Flickerman started to interview Peeta, Effie felt a burst of pride for the baker. He was perfect, in every sense of the word. He was a natural, and the crowd loved him. As the Interview ended, however, Effie felt her stomach drop.

"Because she came here with me," Peeta said, and the words echoed in Effie's head.

She turned to Haymitch in disbelief. "You… you turned…" She couldn't even speak as she stared at Haymitch. "You went and used what I told you against Peeta?!"

"No," snapped out Haymitch, his eyes flashing as they locked with hers. "He confided in me, okay? I never breathed one word to the boy. I was actually upset that I didn't pick up on it. Do you know how we could have sold this story? Did you hear the audience? They know what it's like to love someone they can never have. It's gold."

"Yes, but that works in Katniss' favor, Haymitch! You know that."

Haymitch made to respond but at that moment Effie realized the Interviews were over.

"It doesn't matter," she said, placing her glass down on the side table. "But both of our Tributes deserved a chance, Haymitch," she said angrily, and then she made her way to the elevator. Haymitch threw back the rest of his drink and followed, muttering something along the lines of not being able to please everybody. Effie ignored this. "If I know Katniss, she's going to be royally pissed."

They might have gotten there in enough time to stop everything from unfolding but Portia and Cinna were on a different floor, forcing the elevator to stop.

When they reached the correct floor it didn't take long for Haymitch and Effie to see how angry Katniss was. Peeta was on the ground bleeding and Effie couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

These damned people from the Seam and their inability to know, understand, and appreciate love. They were crazy, both of them, really. Literally insane. And if Katniss had half a brain she'd be bowing down at Peeta's feet and kissing Haymitch. The man was completely brilliant, even if he was a blind idiot.

While Haymitch shouted at Katniss, and spoke complete truth, Effie listened as the two bickered back and forth, keeping an eye out for any sign that Katniss was pushing Haymitch too far.

Effie knew the signs, knew the look. Lord knows she'd done it enough times over the years.

Sure enough Haymitch pinned Katniss to the wall, and Effie was about to intervene when she felt a hand holding her back. She turned around to see Cinna shaking his head slightly.

When Katniss pushed herself away Effie heard Cinna tell the girl that Haymitch was right.

When Katniss finally understood this, a crisis was averted.

The Star-Crossed Lovers story had begun.

Effie, as smart as she was, had no idea how important and life-changing this would be.

XxXxXxXx

"You still mad at me?"

Effie realized that Haymitch must have darkened her doorway more times this Game than all nineteen years combined.

She turned to him, having just touched up her makeup, and shook her head. "No. We both know that between the two of them, Katniss is the one coming out of this Arena. It just… gets old, Haymitch."

She walked over to her bar area and poured each of them a glass.

"I want the hard stuff," muttered Haymitch.

"Beggars can't be choosers." She handed him half a glass of red wine. "You've been drinking red wine all day. Mixing liquors is what causes you to be sick."

He could ask her how she knew he'd been drinking red wine all day. He could also scold her for lecturing him, as if he of all people didn't know the rules of drinking.

But he did neither.

"Where's the rest of it?" Haymitch asked, staring at the low amount, and Effie smiled.

"You've been drinking less and less, Haymitch. I doubt you even noticed, but these kids have all your attention. Even more than your liquor."

He looked down at his glass and then took a large gulp, drinking half the contents. He was doing it to upset her, but she knew him by now, and she didn't let it bother her.

"I guess they kind of got us working together, too," he said after he drank.

"So you noticed," said Effie dryly.

"I noticed you're not as hateable as I thought you were."

Effie blinked. "I'm pretty sure 'hateable' is not a word."

He paused for a moment and then grinned, his eyes twinkling, and it gave her butterflies, it did, because when he smiled his entire face lit up.

Another thing he had in common with Katniss.

"You're alright, you know that Effie Trinket?"

"Nineteen years and you hardly figured that out?" Her voice was dismissive.

At those words he finished the rest of his wine. "You're still a right pain in the ass, as you just proved, but you're not half bad." He walked over to her bar and sat down her glass. "And Princess, you haven't felt this way for nineteen years. Almost fifteen, maybe, but not nineteen."

He walked towards the door, smiling smugly at her stunned expression.

When he reached the door he finally turned and looked at her. "I pay attention, Effie. You might not always think I do, but I see you. You've just never really given me a reason to give a flying fuck until this year."

"So what changed?" Effie arched an eyebrow.

His resolve slipped, and he frowned. "I think I did. Maybe it's because, like you said, I'm drinking less and less, and maybe it has to do with the fact that I genuinely believe Katniss has a chance. Whatever it is, I was finally forced to acknowledge the change in you. I aint' sayin' we best friends or nothin'. But… you're alright, Princess."

She watched him walk away, totally and utterly confused.

Somehow, someway, she and Haymitch had just had a moment.

XxXxXxXx

This part... the part of the goodbye, had never been so hard. Dinner had been a blur, and she hardly touched any of her food. She watched as Peeta and Portia headed off to fix his hand, feeling wildly maternal, and felt relief when they came back, Peeta's hand all bandaged up.

She got emotional watching the recap of the Interviews. Peeta, ever the charmer, was such a kind, sweet boy, really.

The air thickened considerably when the recap was over, and they all stood there for several moments, unsure of what do say and do. She'd never had Tributes she really expected something of.

And then her emotions got the best of her, and with tears in her eyes, she pulled them to her.

"You've been the best Tributes I've ever had the privilege to Sponsor," she sniffed, and they were all looking at her with surprise.

Except Cinna. He didn't seem surprised at all.

Haymitch was frowning at her.

She observed all this in a few seconds, and then quickly turned her attention back to Katniss and Peeta. "I wouldn't be at all surprised if I finally get promoted to a decent District next year!"

She could barely choke out the words.

As if.

They'd have to kill her first.

Still, the damage was done. Katniss couldn't quite hide her disgust, and Haymitch scowled.

Cinna, though, smiled, and gave her a wink.

He knew.

After Haymitch told their Tributes to stay alive, she sent them off to bed, and for once Effie and Haymitch walked in the same direction: towards the bar.

Cinna approached her, pouring himself a drink and then turning to her.

"You're an incredible actress, Effie Trinket," he said softly. "If you can look me in my eyes and tell me you'd change Districts if you could, I'll set myself on fire." Effie kept her mouth shut. "Do you trust me, Effie?"

"As much as I trust Haymitch."

At these words he smiled, his eyes dazzling. "That, I'm sure, is the of highest compliment. Meet me tonight, in my room. Don't tell Haymitch. Act completely normal."

"I'll pretend that I'm calling it an early night, but I'll be there."

"I thought you might say that."

He winked at her and Effie watched as he made his way over to Portia.

She shot back a couple of drinks, quickly, and was on her third when Haymitch approached her.

"What the hell are you doin'? You're gonna drink up all the liquor."

She rolled her eyes, swallowing back her third drink. "That is your job," she said, slamming the glass down. She poured herself another cup and Haymitch snatched the bottle. "Seriously, Ef, what's wrong with you?"

Without answering she swallowed her drink. "Give me the bottle back, Haymitch." Her voice was quiet, but her eyes were blazing.

"You're gonna get yourself drunk."

"What the hell do you care?"

He opened his mouth as if he was about to say something, and then shut it, as if he changed his mind. Shrugging he finally handed her back the bottle and she poured another shot.

"The nightmares are always the worst the night before the Games," she whispered out to him, and she saw his glass stop in midair from being about to take a drink. He slowly lowered his glass as they made eye contact. "I don't want to dream tonight. I just want to sleep, wake up, and then root for Peeta and Katniss." Haymitch didn't respond, so she bid him goodnight.

She felt his gaze on her back until she disappeared.