A/N: Hi guys, it's been a while since I've written any Hayffie and I was really in the mood to write this. I hope you liked it; I'd really appreciate it if you could give me some feedback on this. I'm hoping to write more Hayffie but it depends on your opinion of my writing. Anyway I hope you enjoy and please review xx

"Haymitch Abernathy." Effie stated her worst fears realised. She had almost stuttered when reading his name, but had stopped herself when she remembered the cameras dotted around and how every capitol member was watching with baited breath to see if the star-crossed lovers of District 12 would be returning to the arena. Well, they would be disappointed. Instead the name that she pulled out of the glistening clear bowl was the name of the only person who knew her for who she actually was. Effie's hatred for the Capitol had grown over the last few months and it was only when she had revealed to Haymitch what she looked like underneath her many layers of make-up, that she had truly realised how clouded her vision of the Capitol had been.

Effie felt guilty for secretly wanting to pull Peeta's name out of the bowl. The boy had been through enough in the 74th Hunger Games; however Effie couldn't think of spending this year's Hunger Games watching Haymitch battle other Victors. When she found out what the Quarter Quell was going to be she had leapt for her telephone and called Haymitch. He'd calmed her, told her not to worry; but worry she did. The trepidation of today was realised when she had opened that small piece of white paper. Her usual bright way of saying the names had faded into a dark and prompt announcement.

Effie allowed her eyes to flick towards Haymitch who was getting ready to push himself out of his chair and stand next to Katniss. His eyes had caught hers and the grey in them seemed to dilute, they had recently been a bright grey. Effie put this down to the harsh routine that Peeta had placed him on; no alcohol. The minute their eyes connected the brightness dulled, as if Haymitch knew her pain, but he couldn't, he didn't know how she felt. Effie was beginning to feel her eyes well up and her vision became fuzzy; she felt a light dampness fall down her cheek and through her clouded vision she saw Haymitch shake his head sharply. Effie knew this was her signal to pull her emotions together and be her bright and bubbly Capitol self. She attempted to push a smile onto her face, something which she didn't have to fake when Peeta got up from his seat and declared that he volunteered as tribute. It was a quiet statement but it was enough for Effie to return to her bubbly demeanour.

Haymitch slumped back into his seat as Peeta took his place beside Katniss. Effie watched as the two looked at each other a mix of emotions crossing their faces. Effie didn't know if their love was genuine or not, but she felt a surge of jealousy hit her. She wanted Haymitch to look at her the way that Peeta looked at Katniss. Effie quickly scolded herself for letting herself indulge in these teenage fantasies.

Effie's wig was slipping off her head slightly as she boarded the train, the bright hew had seemed the ideal statement at the time, but now she felt irritated at the sight of it. Her dress felt constricting and too garish. They had been pushed and prodded on their way to the train, the children had not been offered the chance to say goodbye to their family and Effie knew that they both felt bereft at this indecency. The two had retreated as soon as possible, leaving Effie and Haymitch alone in the bar cart.

Effie simply looked up at him and burst into tears. She practically yanked her own hair out when she pulled the wig off her head and threw it down in disgust. Haymitch was surprised by this sudden outburst and stared at the bright synthetic wig that lay like a dead cat on the floor. The real blonde hair that Effie had was pulled into tight pin curls that looked painful. Haymitch crept upt to the shaking Effie who had now sunk onto the floor. She sat on the plush blue carpet, hugging her legs to her chest. As Haymitch reached her she kicked her towering heels off and pulled her legs in closer.

"What's the matter, princess?" Haymitch said, a hint of sarcasm laced his voice; not as much as usual but it was still there. Haymitch couldn't shake the growing nerves that were coming over him. He wanted to reach out to her, pull her closer to him and tell her everything would be alright. He could do that, couldn't he?

Haymitch allowed his hand to creep outwards so that he was touching her arm lightly. He began to tug her a little closer when she snatched her arm back.

"That could have been you?" She said, it sounded loud but she only said it quietly. "That could have been you standing next to Katniss; it could have been you going to fight in that arena." Effie began to shake again as the tears battled against her slender frame.

"But it's not so it's fine." Haymitch said nonchalantly. His waistcoat was now undone and he too had kicked off his shoes. Haymitch continued his efforts to pull her closer and succeeded in connecting her shoulder to his chest. He noticed her breath hitch. Did he dare to imagine?

"You don't understand Haymitch. I felt genuine fear when I said your name. I thought I was going to have to watch you die. The man I l-" She stopped herself, not daring to say another word. Their relationship was already far too awkward. They did not need a declaration of attraction to add to this.

"The man you what? Work with? It wouldn't matter if I went in there. It'd all be over and the annoying drunk would be out of your hair." As Haymitch said this he still pulled her closer, not willing to let her go. He didn't know where he stood with her, but he knew that sitting here on the soft blue carpet on their way to a place they both had learnt to despise was something he would cherish. He body fitted into his perfectly and he felt the desire to sit with her like this for as long as possible.

"Is that what you think you mean to me?" Effie stuttered, she moved backwards so that she could see Haymitch's face. While staring at his face at that moment and seeing the light stubble that surrounded his chin and how his mouth was drooping slightly into an awkward frown, she brought her hand up to his face and touched his cheek with her fingertips. She was careful to avoid scratching him with the long talons that she had forced herself to place on her fingers this morning. "Haymitch Abernathy, you mean more to em than that."

It was a slight declaration, a step forward in their back and forth relationship. Haymitch felt and uncomfortable quickening of pace in his chest as he put two and two together. A slight smile crept its way onto his lips.

"Effie, I have to tell you something." Haymitch stated making sure he did not lose his nerve. "I used to think of you as an annoyance. Someone who was manufactured in the Capitol and was just sent to the District's to do the dirty work of President Snow; but as I've got to know you over the last few years, I realised I was wrong. You're much more than that and I guess I like you more than you think I do. In fact I think I might love you." After he had said it Haymitch wanted to start it all over again and make a better speech, heck she deserved it. He wanted it to be in a different setting, where she could truly appreciate this announcement.

But to Effie it was perfect.

Her only answer was to pull him closer to her and lay a delicate chaste kiss on his lips.

"Haymitch I feel the same way."