Chapter 4

Tristan was asleep on his father's lap with his upper body slumped against Haymitch's chest. In his hand was the crayon he had been using, slack in his grip. The colouring book slipped from his hold and landed on to the floor, catching Effie's attention.

"He's asleep," she told Haymitch, as she bent forward to retrieve the book.

"Yeah," Haymitch nodded.

He pried the crayon from his son's finger and handed it over to Effie before shifting the dead weight until Tristan was fully settled on him with his head on the crook of his father's elbow and his legs across Haymitch's lap.

Ever since he was an infant, Tristan had always been a light sleeper and as his father moved him, it jolted him awake.

"Can we go?" Tristan asked, rubbing his eyes.

"Not yet. It's gonna take a while more and then we can get off the train. Go back to sleep. When you wake up, we'll be at the City," he said. "Or do you wanna join Ethan and your Uncle Felix? They're walking 'round the train – exploring."

The young boy turned sideways, pressing his face on his father's shirt. "Nope. I wanna stay here with you."

Haymitch patted his thigh absent-mindedly, lulling the boy back to sleep. He buried his nose in his son's hair, feeling the soft curls and inhaling the smell of citrus from his shampoo. Orange-mango smoothie, he recalled the label on the shampoo bottle out of the blue.

He snorted.

"What are you thinking?" Effie asked.

"How's a shampoo also a smoothie? Ain't that some kind of fancy drink?" he lifted his eyes to look at Effie. "Burst of mango tango?' Come on."

Effie's brows furrowed in confusion at how random it was. "You're… You're thinking of the children's shampoo?"

"Better than sitting here thinking 'bout what's gonna happen."

There was something in the way he said it that made Effie move from her seat to take a place next to him. She rested her head on his shoulder and almost by second nature Haymitch lifted his arm and slung it across the back of the seat. They remained that way until Ethan and Felix returned. Ethan's excited chatter - his words jumbling into one another - filled the silence in the train car.

It wasn't long before the train finally reached the Capitol and it took a few quiet words with Tristan before he was willing to part from his parents to follow Ethan and Felix back to Effie's apartment, leaving Effie and Haymitch to make their way over to the Family and Justice Building.

XxX

The Family and Justice Building was a two story building located at the central area of the Capitol. Ever since the abolishment of the law, it was an unusually busy place. Next to it was the Registry of Marriages.

There were workers outside the two buildings, trying to maintain some order and provide assistance to the people. Signs had been erected, directing people on what to do and where to go.

Haymitch ignored those workers and went straight to a signboard.

"We should collect the Dissolution Certificate before making custody arrangements," he informed Effie after reading one of those signs. "Come on."

Effie's eyes darted around the crowd as she clutched the file containing their marriage certificate and the children's birth certificates close to her chest. Haymitch laid a gentle hand on the small of her back.

"It's that way," he guided her.

"Mr. Abernathy! Sir!"

Haymitch turned at the sound of his name. He saw a young woman weaving through the crowd, pushing a baby stroller and waving in his direction.

"Emily," he nodded and raised his hand in greeting.

She came to stop in front of them, a smile on her face. Emily seemed genuinely happy to see them.

"How are you, dear?" Effie asked and embraced her. "Oh! Look how big your child has grown!"

"It's so good to see you again, Mrs. Abernathy! Never thought I'd bump into you here. What are the odds? Here in the city of all places!"

"I do have this feeling that we may cross paths with some familiar faces here now that there are urgent businesses to attend to after the law," Effie said.

"Oh, I do believe you would. I've met some of my friends here, too. It made waiting for my turn more bearable. There's a long wait ahead, just be prepare!" Emily warned. She addressed Haymitch with a teasing grin, "are you still lurkin' in the library, sir? I do miss that place but I shall see it soon, I hope. I'm gonna be back in Twelve for good once all my affairs are settled."

Haymitch raised a shoulder in a shrug.

"He has no need for the library now that the law's been abolished!" Effie laughed. "You will be returning to Twelve, you say? I'm assuming you will not be renewing your marriage?"

"Oh, I will," she nodded enthusiastically. "I mean, I have. My husband and I, we've just signed our new marriage certificate at the Registry. I'll be movin' back to Twelve with my husband – that was my only request when we decided to renew. He's more than happy to comply."

"I'm glad to hear that. I'm really happy that things worked out for you, Emily."

"Thank you," she smiled. "I sure hope it worked out for you, too. I'd love to stay and chat, Mrs. Abernathy, but I'm sure you have to be somewhere and I don't wanna keep you from it. I'll see you back home soon. I'm looking forward to meeting your twins!"

"I still remember when she turned eighteen, how terrified she was! It's good to know that she'll be okay," Effie remarked as Haymitch steered her towards one of the buildings and into the designated area.

Just as they had been told, the wait for their turn took a while and Haymitch hated waiting. By the end of the first hour, he was growing increasingly impatient.

"It'll be out turn soon. Only three more ahead of us," she tried to placate him. Effie rested her hand on top of his on his knee and slowly, Haymitch began to relax.

XxX

Just as easily as they were married, they were also easily "unmarried". It was a strange concept to have their marriage reversed and dissolved as if it had never happened before; how easily the power above them could do that.

The Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage lay cold on the table, the ink still drying from where they had just signed at the bottom of the paper. Effie jumped slightly when the Registrar stamped the certificate with a wax seal, making it an official document.

Copies were made and the original was handed over to them but when the Registrar held out his hand in exchange for their marriage certificate in return, Effie hesitated.

"We'll keep it," Effie informed him.

"There is no need for that. Your marriage document is invalid."

"We'll keep it," she insisted.

"Effs, there's no reason for you to – "

"Perhaps not, but all the same, I wish to keep it, Haymitch. Will that be a problem?"

"Not a problem," the Registrar sighed, waving Effie off. "Do as you will, Miss Trinket. That is all, you are free to leave."

Haymitch noticed the way Effie flinched at the use of her maiden name and by instinct, his hand came up to reach out for her only to fall back uselessly to his side. There was nothing to say. Effie lifted her chin, smiled at the man and thanked him before making her way to the door.

"It's the Family and Justice Building next, is it not? To settle the custody?"

"Yeah," Haymitch nodded, opening the door for her.

That was another long wait for them. A quick check on his watch showed him that it was late in the afternoon and nearing the close of the business day. Haymitch tapped his fingers on his knees, worried that they might be told to return the next day.

With half an hour to go, they were finally called in. Haymitch waved Effie in impatiently as she scrambled to arrange the papers that were strewn on the empty seat next to her.

"You've gone through the documents countless times. They're in order," he grumbled. "Quickly."

"Good evening," the Registrar greeted. It was a woman this time with greying hair tied into a neat bun. She beckoned them over to take a seat. "May I have the paper works - the Proposed or the Agreed Parenting plan - whichever you have decided on, please?"

When Effie slid the green form of the Agreed Parenting Plan which they had filled up earlier instead of the blue one that was the Proposed Parenting Plan, Haymitch could see the Registrar visibly relax.

"I see that you have both agreed on joint custody."

"Yes," they answered in unison.

"While the care and control of both children," she looked up from the paper, "will go to Miss Trinket?"

"Yes, that's right," Haymitch nodded. "She'll have care and control. The boys will be stayin' with her."

"Very well," the Registrar made some marks on the paper. "It states here that you, Mr. Abernathy, will make prior arrangements with Ms. Trinket for future visitation."

"Yes, ma'am."

The Registrar took a long hard look at both of them, Effie in particular and placed her pen on the table.

"You're aware, of course, that you are not required to make the decision on custody today, especially if you are considering renewal. You have two weeks left. However, in the meantime, I will advise you to record your agreement for joint custody regardless. Custody rights can always be amended at any stage. The children's welfare and interest are of paramount importance to the Department of Family and Social Services, and if custody is not logged in to the system within the stipulated deadline, you will be guaranteed a visit from them. Do you still wish to proceed or – "

"We're aware, thank you," Haymitch said. "We're ah – We're workin' things out. You can put that agreement on record. No need to have the Social Services breathin' down our neck."

"Yes, go ahead," Effie gave her affirmation.

They sat in silence as the woman keyed in their decisions into the system. Effie glanced at him, her hands clasped together.

"We should have that on record," he spoke quietly. "We don't know how long we'll need to figure things out. Best to play on the safe side."

"Now, just one other thing, I need to know if there's also an agreement on how you wish to split your matrimonial properties and assets. Have you filled the necessary forms?"

Effie flipped through her papers in her file and handed the Agreed Matrimonial Property Plan to the Registrar.

The woman smiled as she accepted the form, leaning back in her seat to study the paper.

"I must say, this is one of the most amicable splits I have seen," she praised. "No reason to be surprised, I supposed. You have worked tirelessly to get the law repealed, it only makes sense that the both of you must have had all of this figured out since day one."

Haymitch said nothing to dissuade her of that notion and neither did Effie. It seemed petty to argue over their assets and property, not that there were many to begin with. The house in Twelve was his – not even his actually, but who was keeping count? – and the apartment in the City was hers. Whatever money they had in their joint account which they had set up mainly for the children's benefit would be split in two as agreed, and Haymitch had promised himself that part of his share would go to the trust fund he had set up for the children years earlier.

"Everything has been recorded in the system. That should be all there is to it. We shall require about three to four week to process the paper works, and you'll each receive a copy of the document stating the terms of your agreement from the Courts thereafter. In the meantime, custody arrangements are effective immediately. If you do not receive the Custody Orders a month after today, please call the general office."

With that over, Haymitch and Effie left the office. Since Effie would be the one with the care and control over the children, she went over to the front desk to sign more documents while Haymitch waited for her at the hallway. He leaned against the wall, watching her when a movement at the corner of his eyes caught his attention.

Haymitch turned to see Elias sneering at him. He pushed himself of the wall and planted himself in the middle of the hallway. If Elias wished to get to Effie, he would have to pass by him.

"You're not going anywhere near her."

"I don't wish to," Elias spat and walked off.

XxX

On the sofa, Ethan sat at the edge, his legs swinging back and forth, as he licked the ice-cream Haymitch had bought for the boys. He watched his father and his brother.

Tristan's ice cream was left forgotten on the coffee table as he stood in front of his father, on the very verge of tears.

"You're not stayin?" he asked, blinking in confusion. "Why can't I come?"

"We've talked 'bout this, you remember? I gotta go back to Twelve, and you gotta stay here with your ma. We'll talk to each other every day, alright? You'll call me, won't you, peanut?"

"But… But I don't know how to use the phone, dada."

Haymitch chuckled. "You mother will teach you. It ain't that hard."

"But I don't wanna stay here! I wanna go with you."

"Come on, Tristan," Haymitch rubbed his face tiredly. "Don't make it difficult. You'll stay here for a little while with your brother and your ma. It's gonna be … It'll be fun. Uncle Felix will take you out. He told me he would. He'll get you more colouring books," said Haymitch.

He nudged the boy lightly, trying to put a smile on his son's face.

"It's just for five days," Effie chimed in, lifting up her hand and showing five fingers. "Then dada will visit again. He won't forget. I will call him to remind, I promise."

"When's five days?" Ethan asked, hopping off the sofa to join his brother.

"Saturday – end of the week," Haymitch answered. "You'll look after each other for me, won't you, tiger? Especially your mother."

His eyes flickered up to Effie and she smiled at him indulgently.

Ethan nodded. "Okay."

"Good man," Haymitch ruffled his hair.

"But dada, Sunday is after Saturday. Right?" he frowned, trying to make sense of the days of the week. "So we can't have pancakes on Sunday 'cause… 'cause you're here on Saturday."

"I'll stay over the weekends – that's both Saturday and Sunday. You're still making pancakes on Sunday, aren't you?" he asked Effie and she nodded. "See, nothing's changed much. We're still gonna have pancakes for breakfast on Sundays. You know your ma doesn't change her schedule on a whim."

Haymitch didn't give them a chance to reply. The longer they talked, the more difficult it would be to leave for the train station. He gathered both boys close and kissed their heads.

"Be good for her, don't get in trouble."

Ethan wriggled out of his father's grasp, same way he did as a toddler whenever someone tried to carry him. Tristan didn't let go. He clung to Haymitch, pressing his face on his father's neck.

"Say goodnight to your father, Tristan," Effie said softly. "You don't have to say goodbye, just wish him goodnight. What do you always tell dada before you go to bed?"

"I love you," Tristan choked out, his voice muffled.

"Yeah," Haymitch said thickly. He swallowed the lump in his throat and patted the boy's back. "Yeah, me too, peanut. I'll see you in five days, okay?"

Effie walked him to the door so they could talk without the children overhearing their conversation.

"Remember what we talked about. This is only for a little while, just some time away from each other," he framed her face in his hands, his thumb brushed lightly over her cheek.

"Only temporary while we both think about what we want," Effie nodded in agreement. She gripped his wrists, her blue eyes fixed on his. "I'm not giving up on you."

"That's a relief," he teased. "You tell the boys that – "

"They can call you anytime they want, and you promise you'll answer the phone," she completed his sentence. "And I have to tell them that I will, of course, let them talk to you every day. I remember what you said, Haymitch."

He smirked at her. "Good. Ethan's gonna miss his geese. Try not to mention his geese if you can avoid it but if it comes up, tell him I'll take good care of them until he can come over to visit."

"Stop worrying," she implored, pecking his lips to silence him. "Sometimes I think, we exchanged personality over the five years."

"That's a horror," he mumbled before kissing her cheek.

He kept his gaze fixed in front of him as he walked away towards the elevator and it was only when he heard the door to her apartment closed shut that he looked over his shoulder. He believed her when she said that she would not give up on him. He had given her so many reasons to quit on him over the two decades that they've known each other but she never did.

Now that things are how I want them to be, the story will pick up some pace. And I'm very excited for you guys to read next week's chapter because someone's coming back with something up the sleeve! :)

Thanks for reading and please leave a review.

(there's really a shampoo with the tag line 'burst of mango tango')