We're back! Here it is: Chapter 4- Broken Promises

When the hovercraft finally touches down, it's hard to hold back the gasp that escapes his lips.

What used to be buildings are now clusters of burned debris dusted with the soot from the mines. What little grass there was now gone. There are some stains of blood that have been splattered and unrecognizable bodies lay on the ground. Only the Victor's Village is left untouched. You can tell by the state of the Mellark Bakery and the Mayor's home that they took the worst hit from the Capitol's bombs. Lucia, Rye, Wade, Carter, Mark, Marissa, all gone. Madge, his only goddaughter; gone. He let Maysilee slip through his hands and her dying wish was for him to take care of Marissa and Madge. Looks like Haymitch Abernathy isn't one to keep promises.

After his family was killed by Snow, he was reluctant about letting anyone in, or letting him care for them, because if you lose someone you care about, you lose part of yourself too. It's just the way of life. You'll end up losing the people you love, one way or the other.

And when he thinks of broken promises, he thinks of Marissa, Maysilee, Madge and Effie; the four women he cares most about, along with Katniss. 3 are gone. 2 left. And 1 is mentally unstable and the other is 100 miles away from his reach. But they all fall into the same category: the women whom he loved, but couldn't save.

As soon as he sees Katniss disappear into her home in the Victor's Village, he starts walking towards what used to be the Seam. It looks the same as the other houses in the merchant area; burned and destroyed. He lets his feet carry him. His body may be there, but mentally, he's all over the place.

He arrives at what used to be his home. If he shut his eyes, he could imagine how it was like 20 years ago; his mother would be sweeping the floor while whistling a tune and his sister would be sitting on the floor, playing with her old, tattered rag doll. It seemed real, like it just happened a mere hour ago.

But when he opens his eyes, his heart sank as he saw a demolished building. The roof was burned to bits and only half of the cement building was left. But it didn't matter anyway. There was nobody living in it since they died.

He walks to the Meadow, eyes clouding with tears. He hopes that his childhood playground wasn't incinerated, and maybe, he'd have some part of his childhood that was still untouched.

He smiles softly when he sees that the grass is still green and there are no signs of blood or soot. He lets himself relax when he lies on the ground, head facing the grey sky. He stays there for who knows how long, because right now, he feels like a little boy again, without a care in the world, just basking in the warm rays of the sun in the Meadow. But the warmth of the sun only reminds him of her.

The way her eyes use to light up the room, the way she would smile through any situation, good or bad. If she was ever feeling sad, she didn't burden anyone with her problems. Keeping herself busy was like her escape from her worries. Like drinking for Haymitch was an escape from his past.

But that light from her eyes disappeared after she was captured. The brightness in her voice has changed to a flat tone. But what he missed the most was the feel of her hands in his. He missed the way that her little hand would mold so perfectly, like they were made for each other. He wondered if she was thinking of him at this moment. He wondered if she thought he broke her promise.

-xxx-

"Mother, I'm home."

She was discharged from the hospital a mere hour ago and was just dropped off a hovercraft half an hour ago. She walked the streets with a small suitcase in hand and a pale pink dress that fell just below her knees. She missed the smell of home. The streets welcomed here with open arms. Though she was a city girl, she lived on the outskirts of the Capitol, away from the bright lights.

An old woman in her sixties embraced Effie tightly, happy tears streaming down her cheeks.

"You've come home, my dear. I've been waiting so, so long," whispered the woman.

Effie couldn't hold back the tears that burst from her eyes. "I've missed you, mother."

After they sat down a couch, drinking some herbal tea and the comfortable silence, Effie's mother put her cup down and looked at Effie.

"What have you been doing since… The war started?"

Effie was extremely reluctant on telling her mother about what happened to her. She didn't want to make her mother worried.

"I won't tell you if you won't be able to handle it," says Effie softly but firmly. She looked straight into her mother's soft, azure eyes.

"Honey, I think I'll be able what you're about to tell me," says her mother with a bitter tone.

Effie gulped and felt a lump rise in her throat. "I… I was captured after Peeta Mellark was rescued by the rebels."

Effie's mother didn't say a word; she just looked at her daughter with a blank expression, as if she was in some kind of trance.

"I was… tortured. They wanted answers from me, but I didn't know anything. Haymitch, he… didn't tell me anything because he knew that it would just put me in danger. They didn't listen to me when I said I didn't know anything." Just the thought of the man made her heart ache.

Her mother shut her eyes and clenched her fist. When she opened them again, she took Effie's hand and held it there. "What did they do to my baby girl?" she whispers.

She's trying, really trying to not let the tears fall again. The memories of days in the prison cell aren't memories she wants to relive. She squeezes her mother's hand. "I don't think I can talk about it without exploding in tears," says Effie with embarrassment. "It's also really painful to just think about. I don't think I'm ready yet."

Her mother smiles softly and nods with understanding. "It's okay. You can tell me when you're ready."

Effie embraces her mother, silently thanking the heavens for blessing her with such an amazing mother.

When they let go, her mother wears a mischievous grin. "So tell me. I know you've been working with this Haymitch Abernathy sometime. What do you think about him?"

I can't hide the blush that creeps up my cheeks. "He's just… a friend. An acquaintance."

Her mother scoffs and says, "Effie, you should know better than lie to your mother. I can tell with my eyes closed whether you're lying or not."

Effie smiles at her mother. "Well, it's been a bit confusing. When I first met him, I thought he was the most annoying drunk I have ever met. Then slowly, he became my friend I guess. I learned how to tolerate him. I also found out he turned to drinking after Snow killed his family. He was a lost and broken man. But after I was captured, he rescued me when he could've just left me to die. And for two nights, he held my hand while sleeping and he promised not to leave my side. But then he left. He left without saying goodbye. He had to accompany Katniss back to Twelve, but he could've left a note or something. He promised he wouldn't leave me."

I couldn't stop myself from letting the story pour from my lips. Just something about a mother, which makes you tell her everything, whether you like it or not.

Her mother smiles knowingly. "I'm sure he has his reasons for leaving. Let me tell you something," she says as she leans in. "When you lose someone you love, you don't want to let anyone else in, in fear that you'll lose that person too. I believe that Haymitch is in this position, Effie."

"But how would you know?" questions Effie.

Her mother bites her lip and says, "I was in that position not too long ago, Eff."

Effie looks at her with wide eyes. "What do you mean?"

"When your father left, I was broken. We were happily married for 35 years, Eff. Can you imagine how it left me?" she shakes her head sadly. "Aunt Magnolia and Aunt Gemini tried helping me, but I wouldn't let them. I wanted you to come home, but I knew you were away at the Games. I didn't want to burden you with anything."

This time, she lets the tears pour out. "But neither you or father told me until now. I didn't know." It was hard to ignore how hard her heart was beating and how painful it was to blink now.

"I'm sorry," says Effie's mother with heavy droplets of tears failing down her face too.

Effie replies by choking back a sob and a subtle nod of her head.

Haymitch lies on his bed, drunk. Dead drunk. Effie sleeps on the couch, miserable. That night, both of them fall asleep while wondering about whether the other was out there, thinking about what should've been. And that night, they both cry themselves to sleep.

So, I hope you guys liked it! This chapter was entirely written by HGHP. rue. peeta so the next chapter will be written by jojo167! Thanks, and don't forget to review, favourite and alert (: