This wasn't prompted by anyone - I thought the last chapter of my fic came up short and didn't want to shortchange you guys so I thought I'd give you a strange little Hayffie moment for this one-shot series.


It had been a late evening. Haymitch had gone out drinking - who knows where. Effie had stayed in as usual, watching the screen until she fell asleep on the sofa. They had one tribute left - he was hanging by a thread, but still alive.

She was startled awake when she heard the door.

"Dead yet?"

Effie yawned. "No - do you have to say it like that?" She pulled the throw from the sofa closer to her chin.

"I'm drunk."

"Obviously …"

Haymitch stumbled over to the sofa and flopped down with his bottle of whiskey.

"Should I ask about sponsors?"

Haymitch only passed her the bottle. Effie sighed and took a sip - pulling a face. "What is that?"

Haymitch shrugged. "Thought it was whiskey."

"It's terrible."

"This time of day I can't tell." He put his feet up on the side of the sofa and his head in Effie's lap. He reached for the bottle but Effie held it away.

"It's foul. God knows what it is."

"Give it here."

"No." Effie put it on the end table.

"Why are you still awake?"

"I wasn't until you came in. You could actually try and be a little quieter," Effie said, resting her head against her hand.

"Didn't know you were sleeping on the sofa, did I?" He reached up and tried to tap her nose, but missed. She laughed a little.

"Would you have cared?"

"Probably. It would've saved you harping at me."

"I'm not 'harping' at you. I'm too tired."

Haymitch smiled. "Thankfully. Why bother trying to stay up? They're all sleeping on screen, aren't they?"

"Yes … but I've woken up to the sound of a canon before and it isn't pleasant."

"I don't think you'll have that much longer to wait - and don't ask 'why did I say it like that' - it's the truth. You know it."

Effie could feel the tears in her eyes. She wiped them away quickly before he could see.

"I don't understand how you can be so … unattached."

"Practice."

"I've tried, though. I've tried - but they're children, Haymitch. I can't just … remove myself."

"Then drink."

"I'm not you." Effie pushed his hand away when he tried again to hit her nose. "Don't you ever think of the parents, either? What it must be -"

"Eff - don't go into it. You'll get yourself even more upset than you already are."

"I'm not."

"You're crying."

"Shut up."

"I'm just saying."

Effie wiped her eyes again. "I never want child. Never."

"Why not? They'd never go into the Games, would they?"

"They'd have to watch. And they'd have to enjoy them. I couldn't bear that. I couldn't … I couldn't."

"Well - if you don't mind my saying, sweetheart, I don't think you have anything to worry about unless you have a new boyfriend you've neglected to complain to me about."

Effie had to laugh a little. "No. Thankfully. I'm too busy taking care of you."

Haymitch smiled - but she couldn't see.

"I did think I was pregnant once," Effie said suddenly - causing Haymitch to ask for the bottle of liquor again. "No - I told you. It's disgusting … and you're already drunk."

"You were pregnant?"

"Thought. But I wasn't."

"Well thank god for that."

"Could you imagine though …"

"No. And I'd like not to," said Haymitch. "Why don't we just sit quietly and wait for the canon."

But Effie wasn't listening. "God … could you imagine your children? They'd come out liquor bottles …"

"Now you're beginning to make me think you're drunk … or overtired. Sweetheart, be quiet. Close your eyes. Go back to sleep. I'm sorry for waking you up."

"You never wanted children?"

"What sort of a question is that? Of course not. Never." There was a strange tone to his voice - one that made Effie sorry for asking the question. "Besides - too busy letting you take care of me."

He took her hand in his and kissed it. He didn't let go, though, he kept her hand - their fingers laced together, against his chest. She could feel the beating of his heart. Effie bit her lip and looked away - looked at the screen that was panning around the arena at night.

"Are you sleeping out here too, then?" she asked.

"Dunno. I'm going to wait for you to fall asleep then probably grab that bottle. It'll be … a surprise where I end up."

Effie sighed. She forced herself to stay awake for the rest of the night - her hand in his, still resting on his chest as he slept instead.