Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games

Unwanted News

Katniss glanced towards Effie as they walked down the corridors of District 13, Effie was quiet and it unnerved her; she'd never once seen Effie this quiet, this nervous. Effie had always been bubbly, talkative the life of the party but now she just seemed a different Effie.

"Thank you for helping Peeta," Katniss muttered finally breaking the silence, "I think you've really helped him today," but Effie said nothing in return and Katniss pulled on her plait. She had nothing more to say so she simply chose to stay quiet.

They continued to walk down the corridor until they reached the elevator, Katniss flicked the switch and the door opened. They silently walked inside and it was now Effie who pressed the button to make the elevator descend.

"Power can corrupt even the nicest of people Katniss, power can consume a good heart and it can twist it and turn it so the goodness is no longer there and once the power has taken control they can be blinded to what's truly in front of them. The power destroys the goodness and you become a monster, a monster who craves more and more power, they'll destroy anyone and everything in their path to reach the goal they've set out. These people are far more dangerous than any weapon found in the games Katniss. You must be careful around these people my dear, you never realise how little your worth can suddenly become when you are no longer needed." Katniss stared at Effie with her eyes wide.

"Are you talking about Coin?" Katniss asked standing closer to her "are you warning me about something?"

Effie reached for Katniss's hand, squeezing it she quickly let go as the doors to elevator opened. "Be careful who you trust sweetie," Katniss nodded, her mind was racing upon hearing Effie's confession, was she in danger? What was Coin planning? Was Peeta safe?

"Effie, you'd not keep things from me if I was in danger would you?"

"You're my Victor Katniss, if I can keep you safe then I will." Effie smiled at Katniss and she smiled in return but Katniss quickly noticed how Effie's eyes clouded over. Frowning Katniss stopped and stared directly at Effie.

"Why do I think there's something you're not telling me?" she finally asked and Effie stopped to look at her, almost on instinct Effie's arms circled around her stomach and stared at Katniss with wide eyes. Katniss glanced between Effie's face and the arms wrapped around her stomach in confusion, was she still upset about confessing to Peeta about her miscarriage? She'd been outside watching quietly when she heard the confession. She was clearly shocked about the confession but not as shocked at Haymitch had been, he'd stumbled backwards in horror his eyes were wide and his jaw was almost touching the ground. The baby obviously had to be Haymitch's which disturbed her slightly, she didn't need to know that much about their relationship.

"Don't you worry about me dear, it was just hard listening to Peeta?" But for once Katniss wasn't buying it, she stared back at Effie's stomach and she felt like she'd been kicked in the stomach. She looked into Effie's eyes and then back to her stomach. Slowly Katniss walked towards Effie and her hands reached out to touch Effie's stomach. Effie inhaled deeply but didn't remove her arms nor did she stop Katniss from reaching forward.

"You're pregnant," it wasn't a question but more of a statement and Effie bit her lip. She blinked a few times to hide the tears that were forming in her eyes.

"Yes," she finally whispered, "it was an accident I didn't know I was pregnant until this morning when your mother told me. Please don't tell anyone."

"I won't, I – I won't say anything I promise," said Katniss as she stared at Effie's slightly bumped stomach. "How do you feel about it?" Katniss finally asked after a few minutes of silence.

"I don't know. I'm happy but I'm scared Katniss, I don't want to raise a child in this place and what happens if the revolution fails and the child is reaped in the games and…"

"Effie, this revolution isn't going to fail! I won't let that happen I promise you! Your child is going to be safe. I won't let anyone hurt it."

"You, won't tell Haymitch about it, will you?"

Haymitch? Katniss stared at Effie in surprise but she nodded "I'll not tell Haymitch but you really need to tell him. He was shocked when he found out about the miscarriage. I don't know how he'll take the news of you being pregnant." Admitted Katniss and Effie nodded.

"I know I'll tell him but it has to come from me. Now let's go and get you ready for your Propo." Effie said with a forced smile.

The propo was terrible and Effie felt like banging her head against the wall but she was a proper lady and that was unladylike behaviour for anyone as civilised as her. From across the room she could see Haymitch watching her, his eyes should have been on Katniss's awkward performance but his grey orbs were on her.

It was no good she thought as she turned away from his gaze, she'd have to tell him about the baby.

XXX

"Sweetheart, we need to talk," were the first words that greeted her as she walked into her compartment.

"How did you get in here?" she asked but Haymitch rolled his eyes.

"With good reason, I can enter any chamber," he tells her and he pats the spot on the bed beside him. With a sigh Effie lowers next to him.

"You really do need a shave," she whispered as the backs of her fingers stroked his cheek.

"So you've already told me," he replied and he finally turned to her.

"Why didn't you tell me about the miscarriage sweetheart?"

Effie sighed and she fiddled with the bottom of her dress, "I didn't want you to think me losing the baby was anything to do with you. I knew you'd think it was another child you couldn't save but it was my fault that the baby didn't make it." Haymitch frowned at her words, he shook his head and reached for her hand.

"How was it your fault? It take two to make a baby sweetheart."

"I forgot to take my pills that kept me from falling pregnant and we didn't use a condom, but even though I knew all of this I never thought that I could fall pregnant. So when you returned to District 12 I continued on with my life, I would go out socializing on an evening, I'd take sleeping pills before bed, I skipped meals far too often. I never took care of myself. My lifestyle killed our baby."

"Sweetheart, I don't blame you. You didn't even know and like you said it's for the best." Effie bit her lip but nodded.

"I sometimes think back to it, wonder if it would have been a boy or a girl if they'd have looked like you or me." Haymitch shook his head.

"Best not to, that baby would have died with me as their father, it would never have worked between us. You're Capitol and I'm District,"

"So, why does that matter? Where we come from shouldn't have been a problem!" Effie argued, her heart was getting away from her head.

"So what? You'd have moved to District 12 and we'd have started a family only for Snow to take it away 12 years later when my child is reaped in the games. Effie I didn't want children, when my family was killed I buried that hatchet. It's cruel but that miscarriage was the best thing that could ever have happened."

"Get out!" muttered Effie in shock, she tried to control her breathing but she could feel the lump forming in her throat.

"Effie be reasonable, I can't be a dad, I don't want to be a dad."

"Get out!" Effie screamed, she throw her pillow at him and Haymitch stumbled backward. "Get out, out out out!" She screamed as the tears fell down her face.

Shocked from her sudden outburst Haymitch stumbled backwards, he tried to speak out but nothing was coming out. He reached for the door and slid it open, stepping out he turned back to face her. "If only things had been different sweetheart," he slid the door shut behind him and Effie fell on to the bed, she curled her arms around her knees as more tears fell from her eyes. He did not want a child, Haymitch didn't want a child.

It's shorter than I had hoped for but I just seemed to struggle with this, usually when a chapter is short it means I'm struggling but to me it sounds okay. So hopefully you'll enjoy it, a review would be lovely as always :)

Thanks, Lottie