Author's notes: Hi! I'm back! The writing is going okay so far, I'm doing well with the hunger games stuff but I still have a star wars and tomb raider fic I need to finish and I have some that people want continued and loads in progress. But I will not post any until my current 4 are completed. (Current 3 at the minimum)
Thank you for stick with me! Love you all! :D

Haymitch in the third quarter quell.

Chapter eight.

The two of them remained hidden behind the towering kitchen counter and feeling the cold tiled floor beneath them. In their sitting position they were embracing each other and offering the strongest sort of comfort and support.

"I'm so sorry I've put you through this, Effie...these past few days have been hard enough for you..."

"I think you're being incredibly brave, Haymitch...you can't control any of this and your handling this better than most."

"I ran out of training!"

"Some of the tributes haven't even been showing up!"

"This whole thing is just..." Haymitch stopped mid sentence, remembering that there could still be devices recording their voices, maybe even cameras. Effie looked at him with a questioning nature sparkling in her eyes and Haymitch held his index finger to his lips, reminding her that technically they may not be alone.

"I can't imagine what this must be like for you, Haymitch...you were promised a life of peace after you won, but now they're just betraying you!"

"Shhhh!"

"It's not like it hasn't already been said or established."

"I know, but I don't want you in any danger." Much to Haymitch's guilt and discomfort, he'd remembered the plan he made with Plutarch, the plan of the rebellion.

He knew half of the tributes had knowledge of it, Peeta and Katniss didn't, but at least he knew Katniss would be saved, she would be their mockingjay. For so long Haymitch was prepared to walk away from the penthouse, whether he was reaped or not and leave any stragglers. That included Effie.

It seemed barbaric to have a Capitol citizens know about the rebellion, they'd never agree, they were all blind to the horror around them. But Effie wasn't, not any more.

He'd have to find away to make sure Effie would remain safe. Could he just tell her now and inform Plutarch another way? Surely that would work. But, what if Effie didn't want to be part of the rebellion? All he knew was that he had to keep her safe, if she wasn't out of the Capitol in time she would be taken away, probably tortured or even killed.

And he couldn't let that happen! Surely if Plutarch knew that Effie was part of the rebellion he'd allow it, after all, he knew Effie, and she'd be around him most of the time. But most of all, Plutarch trusted Haymitch.

"I wish that this had all happened sooner..." Effie sighed, interrupting his thoughts.

"The quell?!"

"Of course not! I meant me and you, I meant us." She blushes slightly. Their time together had been short, and the games were creeping closer and closer, like when a person lived their first few days of a holiday, and it only become clear how close the end is when it finally arrives.

They both knew that once Haymitch stepped into the arena they may never meet again. Haymitch may have the rebellion behind him, but he wouldn't be protected from the fellow victors.

"I do too, Effie."

"I should have said something to you sooner...I had so many chances..."

"I should have as well, but maybe if I had, all of this would have been more painful...?"

"Nothing could make this anymore painful...-" A few stray tears ran down Effie's cheeks, smudging her subtler make-up.

"-Please promise me you'll try your best, Haymitch...please."

"Effie...there's something I need to tell you.-" Effie looked at him curiosity and pure fear etched on her face. "-For quite a while now, me and some of the current tribute have had a kind of plan with Plutarch Heavensbee...-"

"Heavensbee? What is it?" Haymitch hesitated for a moment and took a few heavy breaths that scratched his throat. Effie's eyes remained softly locked onto him. He decided to just come right out with it and said,

"There's going to be a rebellion, against the Capitol, some districts could already be in uprisings, but I guess you could say we're making it official..." Effie didn't speak, she just moved her head so she was facing forward, but she didn't cry, scream, panic, she was rather stoic. "Effie?"

"Do Peeta and Katniss know?" Haymitch shook his head, his blonde locks flicking around.

"No, it would be to dangerous and influential to tell them, especially Katniss, but we have a way to get her and me out of the arena." For some reason Effie didn't question him of his plan, she trusted him enough.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Plutarch was already prepared to take Peeta away before every gets worse, and I couldn't risk you being left here to suffer, I couldn't live with myself if that happened to you...Originally, none of the Capitol citizens were going to be told, most people thought we couldn't trust them, but if I'm going to die, I want to know that you're safe...Plutarch knows you and he trusts me, I need you to talk to him at some point, you'll get a chance, right?"

"Of course."

"If you tell him you know about the rebellion, tell him I told you, then he has no choice but to take both you and Peeta."

"What if he doesn't believe me?"

"There's no possible way you could have know unless you were told by me."

"Write something down, Haymitch, anything! Just to prove that this was your idea." Haymitch smiled at her warmly.

"You never fail to amaze me, Princess." Haymitch rose to his feet with a slight groan, Effie followed eagerly. He rooted through several of the kitchen draws before pulling out a scrap of paper and a pen. He scribbled roughly over the paper and finished it with his signature.

He folded tightly and placed it in Effie's hand. She placed it in an almost invisible dress pocket he never knew existed.

"Give that to him."

"You didn't threaten him did you?"

"Course not." He said enthusiastically.

"Truthfully?"

"Well...maybe a little." They both laughed and Effie slapped his shoulder playfully. "Just remember I'm doing this for you." "I'll never forget what you do for me." They took each others hands and gazed warmly at each other. Haymitch leaned down and placed a tender kiss in the centre of Effie's forehead.

"I promise I always keep you safe." There was a rumble of an approaching elevator that interrupted their silence. They broke away from each other - saddened by the lack of contact, and moved to get a better view of the elevator.

"You thinking Katniss or Peeta?"

"I think Peeta, training shouldn't be over yet." Effie was right, Peeta took a few reluctant steps into the penthouse until he finally noticed Haymitch was there.

"Haymitch what are you doing here?!"

"There were a few...uh...problems..."

"As in you left?!" "Maybe...for a good enough reason."

"Great! I'm out there getting sponsors just to find out that you're not even showing up to the training!"

"Whoa! Don't pretend you know what's going on here! Anyway...the training remains private, what are they going to do?"

"I don't think sponsors are interested in a tribute that can't be bothered!"

"Half of the tributes aren't even showing up! And the sponsors will never find out, they never knew about Katniss shooting an arrow at the game makers last year!"

"Fine."

"Peeta, trust me, I appreciate all that you're doing, Katniss does too-"

"-What do I do?" Katniss questioned. No one had even heard the elevator approach. "Haymitch what the hell happened to you?!"

"Don't worry."

"Walking out if training? Leaving me there when your always the one stressing to me about how I need to prepare and make friends! Do you think that because you know most if those tributes that you don't need to bother?!"

"Katniss!-" Effie squealed.

"Is that it? Did you just decided you couldn't be bothered any more?! Did you-"

"I couldn't handle it okay!" He exclaimed angrily. "I just couldn't take it!" Everyone fell silent. And guilt was portrayed upon the younger two. "I know I'm week because of it but its not like I don't know that! So just forget it!" Haymitch stormed away and leaned away and hid her face.

"I think I'm going to go and get changed..." Katniss excused herself with teary eyes.

"I'll be back soon." Peeta lied as he retreated to his room. Effie cried silently for a moment - the tears stinging everywhere they touched.

She couldn't stand the way Haymitch suffered and now others were angry with him because of his own haunting past. A past he can't ignore or block out. Fear he can't control. Every time he suffered or broke down her doubts of his survival rose. This her shatter her heart a little more each time - causing more mental and emotional pain than she could usually handle.

She gathered herself as best as she could and tip-toed down the hall and to Haymitch's door. She tapped on it lightly and slowly pushed it open. Haymitch stood on his feet but his torso was leant over a desk with his head in his arms. He was shaking violently.

Effie moved to his side - making hardly any noise. Haymitch jolted with fright when Effie rested her hand on his back, but his head remained down. She could see through the stands of his scruffy hair that his eyes were blood-shot and teary.

"I can't do this, Effie...-" He sniffed, "-Even Peeta and Katniss are doubting me..."

"They have no right to, they haven't me suffering from the games as long as you have...honestly, Haymitch, you're coping well."

"I'm not, can't you see that? I'm not."

"You can do this, Haymitch." Haymitch shook his head in response. Effie bent down slightly, slid her arms around his toros and pulled him upright for a tight embrace - which he returned.

Haymitch leaned down a pressed kisses along Effie's neck, not just embracing his love for her, but in some ways he was seeking comfort. Although the sensation of the kisses was like an orgasmic wave running through her she has a feeling that this was not the right time for this.

As much as she wanted to, she knew this was probably the last thing Haymitch needed. "Haymitch...-" She breathed,

"Are you sure about this?" Haymitch stopped - breathing heavily. He rested his forehead on Effie's shoulder.

"You're right, Effie."

"I just want you to take it easy and relax."

"I will." He pulled his head up again.

"And..maybe...it might be wise to avoid the alcohol..?" Haymitch sighed at her comment.

"Stay in here with me? Your presence is the only thing that makes me feel truly relaxed." A feeling if importance and affection flooded through Effie's limbs, warmed her chest and pulled at her heart strings. Then she whispered,

"I'll never let you go.

Author's notes: Sorry that was only a short chapter but I hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to leave a review, they really help me out and make my day. (: