A/N: Thanks for all the reviews and all your support, it really encourages me to write more. Sorry it took me so long to update, I had a major family emergency, and my birthday is coming up, so I'd really like to leave you guys with something to read because I'll be busy these next few days. Oh, and on a quick note, I actually have a theme song for this story, so if you guys would like to listen to the inspiration for my Hayffie drabbles, look up WE FOUND LOVE (SAM TSUI VERSION). It's a truly beautiful song and fits Haymitch and Effie well. Anyways, please R&R, and enjoy! ^_^
Chapter 4: Not Anymore Part II
Effie, I miss you. Please come back to District 12. I…I think I'm in love with you. I know I've told you this before, but I mean it so, so much. I can't function without you. I beg you, please come back to me. We can get through this.
Yours,
Haymitch
Effie stares at the letter, thinking about how Haymitch has never been that candid about his feelings. Feeling the tears begin to fall, she folds up the letter and puts in back in the envelope, and places it among the letters that Haymitch had sent her in the two months she had been gone.
She sighs, and wonders if he really means it.
"Effie, are you okay?" her older sister, Morgana, asks, looking concerned, "Abernathy hasn't sent you another letter, has he?"
Effie's pale face says it all, and Morgana exhales, and wraps an arm around her baby sister, "Listen, sweetie, you did what was right. You deserve so much more than being a mother to a drunk. Look at you, you're beautiful, giving, and in the Capitol doing what you love. You don't need him."
"But I love him," she whispers, her head hanging low.
"Oh, Effie. Leave it to you to fall for the lost cause."
...
"Dammit!" Haymitch roars, pacing around his living room, looking quite deranged.
"Haymitch, please," Peeta says quietly, "You have to understand why she's acting this way."
"How many times do I have to apologize?"
"I don't know," Peeta says. He and Katniss sit on his couch, wondering if he knew... truly understood why Effie left him.
Katniss speaks up, "Listen, she's coming to our one-year celebratory dinner. You can talk to her then."
He perks up, "Really? She's coming?"
Katniss smirks, "I need someone to help me organize a party."
...
"Effie, maybe you shouldn't go," Morgana pleads, looking scared for her only sister.
"They're my friends," Effie says, forcing a smile, "Besides, it's bad manners for me to cancel this late." Kissing her sister on the cheek, she boards the train.
As soon as the train leaves the station, she opens up her purse, and pulls out the letters that Haymitch sent her. She runs a light hand over the first one, which smells slightly of whiskey, and the handwriting is messy and scribbled, and the letter barely makes sense. The first few are like that. As if he had written them while drunk. However, his later letters are better. The letters no longer smell of liquor, and the handwriting is neater, and the letter easier to decipher. Effie wonders if he's sobered up.
It takes about a day to reach District 12, and the entire time, Effie's thoughts remain on Haymitch and she worries about seeing him again.
By the time the train reaches the train station, she's a ball of nerves. She calms down slightly when she sees that Haymitch isn't there to pick her up, only Katniss and Peeta, who are holding hands.
Effie remembers Haymitch's rough, calloused hands.
She steps out of the train, and gives the two Rebels and Victors each a kiss on the cheek. "Hello. How are you?"
The two share a look, and Peeta answers, "We're fine. And you, Effie? How are you?"
She forces a smile, "Oh! It is simply excellent at the Capitol! I do love my work. It's so diverting."
"Ah," Katniss says, nodding. "Are you hungry? We have dinner ready at the house."
Effie realizes just how hungry she is. It's hard to eat when you're heartbroken. She nods, and the three set off towards Victor's Village.
...
Haymitch paces back and forth across Katniss and Peeta's dining room. He knows they will return at six on the dot, because that's just how Effie is. Dinner at 6:15, no later. He smirks at the thought. He misses her so much, and all Haymitch wants is to hold her again in his arms, and never, ever let her go. He passes a mirror and checks his reflection for the tenth time that evening. His blond hair is neatly combed, his face freshly shaved, his blue eyes no longer bloodshot, and his teeth whitened. He straightens the tie of the white suit he had put on for her, and hopes that she'll like his new look.
He starts when he hears the door opening and Effie's trilling Capitol accent and the melodic click-clacking of her impossibly high heels fill the room.
"Oh, you two look positively glowing! You must gush about married life!" Effie stops when she sees a primped Haymitch standing in the doorway. She doesn't know what to think about this changed man, and frankly, it makes her want to cry. Was all of this for her?
He smirks, shoves his hands into his pockets and says softly, "You shouldn't stare, Effie. It's rude." He wonders if anyone notices that he's tearing up at seeing this beautiful women standing in front of him.
"Haymitch, I...," Effie can't even come up with proper words, but remembers what went on between the two of them, and stiffens, "It's nice to see you again, Mr. Abernathy."
Katniss and Peeta stand to the side awkwardly, not knowing it they should interfere. Finally, Peeta clears his throat, "Dinner is ready, if you guys want to eat."
Effie turns away from the transformed man in front of her, and smiles at Peeta, "Of course."
They head to the table, where Peeta pulls out Katniss's chair, and Haymitch runs to Effie's seat and does the same for her, "There you go, sweetheart."
She mashes her lips together, and utters a, "Thank you." Effie turns her attention to the beautifully cooked goose on the table, the freshly baked bread, and bowl of strawberries layed out in front of them. "Oh, this looks absolutely delicious! Peeta, I sense the bread is your doing, and Katniss this goose is just incredible looking! You two put on a magnificent spread."
Out of habit, Haymitch snorts at her ridiculous attempts at small talk, and Effie shoots him her famous "death glare". "Is there a problem, Mr. Abenathy."
"Oh, none at all, Miss Trinket," he mimics her voice, "Just complementing you on your impeccable manners."
She knows he's being sarcastic, and this infuriates her, "Haymitch Abernathy, do you really think this is the time to pick a fight with me?"
"Absolutely not."
"Goo-"
"I think this is the time to ask why you haven't answered any on my letters," he asks, folding his hands in exaggerated politeness.
"Haymitch, this isn't the time..."
"Then when? I know you, Effie. You'll put it off until it's time for you to leave, and we'll never talk about what went on between us."
"Do you want us to leave?" Katniss asks weakly, but neither Effie or Haymitch hear her.
"Well, I think actions speak louder than words, and your actions two months ago have clearly spoken loud enough for me to know the true you!" Effie, says, her voice raising.
"Two months ago!" Haymitch stands up suddenly, "Two damn months ago, Effie! Can't you see how much I've changed? I don't drink as much, I-"
"Aha! As much? So you still drink?" Effie stands up too, and they are facing off now from opposite sides of the dinner table.
"I can't stop overnight!" Haymitch yelled, "But I drink a hell of a lot less than I used to."
"Why?" Effie can feel the tears running down her face, but she doesn't reach up to wipe them away. "You made it clear that alcohol means more to you than me two months ago."
"Why can't you understand that it was two months ago?" Haymitch can hear his voice cracking, "I missed you so much, and it made me realize I had to make a choice, so I chose you."
"You shouldn't have had to make a choice in the first place!" Effie screams, "If you really love me, you should have shown it every damn day we were together, not just when you think I'm going to leave you."
"I've grown Effie! And it's made me realize how much I love you! Can't you fucking see that?"
"How can I see it, when you haven't proven to me that you care? How can I be certain that you love me? How-" Effie stops when Haymitch presses his lips to hers forcefully, and cups her cheek to keep her there.
Effie is shocked to say the least. One minute they are yelling at each other, and the next minute Haymitch is kissing her. She stands there, frozen, until she feels his tears on her cheeks and lips, and it makes her realize that he truly missed her. She places her soft hand on the strong, calloused one that's cupping her cheek, and kisses him back. She hears Katniss and Peeta get up and leave the room, and normally she would have been embarrassed at her breach of etiquette, but for now she doesn't care, and keeps kissing the man across the table as if she'll never kiss him again.
Haymitch is shocked. He did not plan on kissing Effie, and so forcefully at that moment. But he doesn't care. He just keeps kissing this beautiful angel across the table from him.
Finally, they break apart, both breathing heavily. Effie is red, both from the force of the kiss and from the embarrassment of kicking Katniss and Peeta out of their own dining room. "Oh, dear," she says, "Maybe we should call them back in and apologize."
Haymitch snorts at her concern for etiquette, and walks around the table, hands in his pockets so that he is on the same side as Effie. "They'll be fine, Effie." He cups her cheek again, and has to hold back more tears because he knows that he is lucky enough to get her back. Gently, he wipes away her tears with his thumb. "Please stay, Effie," he whispers, "I'm not better, but with you, I could be."
She nods, and reaches up to hold Haymitch's face with both hands, and this time it's her turn to wipe his tears with her small delicate hands. "I'll stay, Haymitch. I need you, too."
She brings his face down to hers, and the two kiss passionately again. Haymitch's arms wrap tightly around Effie's waist and pulls her closer to him, because he doesn't want her any further from his again. Effie wraps her arms around his neck and stands up on her tiptoes to deepen the kiss.
When they finally break apart for the second time, Effie laughs out loud, and Haymitch raises a questioning eyebrow, "Why are you laughing?"
"Can we please apologize to Peeta and Katniss now? It's really bothering me. It's really not polite, what we just did."
Haymitch bursts out laughing that at such a passionate moment like this, Effie could still be incredibly concerned with manners and etiquette. "Okay, sweetheart. We'll go, if that's what you want."
"It is."
"Very well, then," Haymitch smirks, and grabs Effie's hand and leads her to the study, where Katniss and Petta are hiding out, and wondering if anyone was still alive after such a passionate display of emotions.
Effie squeezes Haymitch's hand, and he returns the pressure. And in that one simple gesture, they both knew one thing.
Neither of them ever intended to let go of the other again.
A/N: I hope you liked this chapter! Personally, I don't think I did so well with this one, but you guys tell me! Please remember to leave a review on the way out, I look forward to hearing from you! ^_^