Chapter Six- A Night Beneath the Lights

For the next couple of years, Lila and Haymitch's meetings were similar. He'd come to the Training Center drunk and Lila would tend to him. Some years, they made no contact, but other times, they would sit by each other in silence, knowing that the special bond that they held so close would now be gone forever.

Haymitch tried to stop drinking, but the pain was unbearable. He'd try to seem presentable to Lila, but once he saw her, memories flooded his head and he needed a drink to calm him down. Lila had these same feelings, but she doesn't have any alcohol to be comforted with.

Her time at the Headquarters hasn't gotten any better. She's still starving, but now she treasures those pieces of gum. She sneaks them into her mouth when the Peacekeepers aren't looking and she chews on it for hours.

For the 60th Hunger Games, like any other year, Haymitch was dreading to go to the Capitol. Not only because he had to watch two more children die, but because he had to see Lila. This was worse than her dying. He couldn't talk to her, and she couldn't talk to him, but they were both forced to act civil with each other.

He knew he had to do something to save her, but he couldn't think of a thing. Lila always had a different Avox partner each year, but she was the constant. Haymitch and Lila would share special moments, though. A smile here, some eye contact there. That's all. For a couple of days a year, they would celebrate seeing each other with sweet sorrow.

On the 65th Games, Lila forgot one of her clothes outside in the dining room, so she went to get it. Instead of finding an empty room, she found Haymitch. If anything, his appearance has been getting worse instead of better. His skin is now a yellowish color, and his eyes are redder.

When Haymitch sees Lila, he stands up. He manages to sputter out a couple of words, "I was hoping I would get to see you." These were the first words spoken between the two in fifteen years. Lila looked confused, she knew she wasn't supposed to make contact with him, but she couldn't move. She didn't want to move.

She had forgotten how sweet his voice was when he spoke to her. "Come with me," he said and grabbed Lila's hand. He led her to a door that Lila had seen many times before, but had never entered. She thinks it leads to the roof. Haymitch opens the door and starts to walk up the stairs. He holds Lila's hand so she has to go up the stairs as well.

Lila was right, it did lead to the roof, and the view was the most beautiful thing Lila had seen in years. Everywhere she looked a new color started, and for the first time in over a decade, Lila smiled. Haymitch saw her smile and he remembered all the wonderful things they had together and he smiled too.

Then brought her to the garden and she smelled the flowers, and their smiles only grew.

The rest of the night was mostly silent, Haymitch looking at Lila, and Lila looking at Haymitch. Like always, they didn't need to say anything to know what the other person was thinking, but they wanted to say so much. They had so much to share; their new lives, new stories. And it killed them knowing that they will never have a conversation ever again.

Lila hoped that Haymitch would find the strength to be happy again, because that's all she really wanted. As long as he got better, she would be all right. Haymitch wanted to tell her that he still loved her and would die loving her, but he couldn't think of a way to word it right.

The morning sun started to wake up the sky, and they both knew that they would have to say goodbye.

Before Lila had a chance to open the door knob, Haymitch pulled her back and held her close. He hated how this night had to end. He kissed her forehead and then put his hands on either side of her face, "I'm gonna get you out of here, sweetheart. Just wait,"

A/N: I know this is a really short chapter, but quality is better than quantity, right? Well, there's your Greek Philosophy for the day.

I'm hoping the next chapter will be epic, but who knows anymore. It's just so darn hard to make deep connections with a drunk and a girl with no tongue! Just a little spoiler: next chapter is going to take place when Peeta and Katniss are in the games, and there is going to be quite some twist on our dear Lila's life. I'm going to try to get most of it finished tonight, because I feel bad leaving you guys with this lame chapter…