A/N: Yay! I finally get to update! Sorry, guys, it's been a really hard week; I had like ten tests, no joke! And I was gonna update yesterday, but I crashed, no lie, I was just so tired! Oh! And THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORTIVE/LOVELY/KIND/HUMOROUS reviews that you guys have sent me. Okay, please R&R, and I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 9: The Proposal
He waits at the train station, his hands stuffed in his pockets, and he smirks, knowing how much Effie would disapprove. The train pulls up suddenly, and when the doors open, he can't help but grin as the perky blonde strides gracefully from the train. She winces a bit when she notices Haymitch's hands in his pocket, but throws herself into his arms nevertheless.
"Welcome back, Princess," he whispers into her hair, squeezing her tighter.
"I've only been gone a week, Haymitch," she says, not letting go of his neck.
"A week too long, in my opinion."
They break apart, and Haymitch takes her bags for her, which causes Effie to give him a suspicious look. "Haymitch, what are you-?"
"What? Can't a man do something for his lady?"
She's still suspicious, but replies, "It's about time you got some manners!"
Haymitch rolls his eyes, but says nothing, and the two turn and head home.
...
"Haymitch!" Effie gasps upon walking into their house, "You cleaned up!"
It was true. Haymitch had worked his ass off to get the house just the way Effie wanted, and more. Champagne on the table, the lights low, candles glowing on top of the pristine white table cloth, and rose petals scattered everywhere.
"Isn't that what girls like?" he asks. He had to go to Peeta for help with the decor.
She turns around and kisses him pasionately, and Haymitch drops the suitcases he's carrying, and wraps his arms around her waist, and pulls her closer to him. When they break apart, both heaving and flushed and slightly turned on, Haymitch waggles his eyebrows, and says, "Now, we can eat dinner first and take a bath after. Or, we could bathe now and eat later."
Effie turns an even deeper shade of red, but leans in and whispers, "Meet you in the bath in ten minutes."
Haymitch growls and tries to grab her, but she steps nimbly from his grasp, grabs her suitcase, and smirks, "Ten, minutes, Haymitch." Then she turns and walks up the stairs, shaking her hips slightly as she ascends to the second floor.
...
Effie reaches the bedroom, and throws the suitcase under the bed, convincing herself that she'll unpack later. She quickly undresses and lets her blonde hair out of the simple bun she was wearing so that it flows in tresses down her shoulders. Then, she puts on her pink satiny bathrobe that stops at her thighs. Finally, she sprays herself with perfume, the kind she knows Haymitch loves.
Finally, she calls out, "Haymitch, are you ready?" She walks into the bathroom, and is once again taken away with how Haymitch decorated the bathroom, with champagne on a small table, rose petal scattered in and out of the bath, and only candles to light the room.
Haymitch is already naked and in the bath. His eyes sweep over Effie, and he grins, "Come, sweetheart. Why don't you join me?"
She blushes, and takes off her robe, and steps gently into the tub, sighing as the warm water touches her skin. She sits down and settles herself in between Haymitch's legs, and he wraps his arms around her tightly.
"Mmmm, Haymitch, this is so sweet," Effie manages to utter, as she starts to feel Haymitch's erection press against her lower back.
He just grunts, and starts rubbing his hands up and down her body, stopping at her chest and keeping his hands there to play with her breasts for a while, enjoying Effie's slight moans. "Anything for my girl." He moves his hands down to rest on her stomach again, and presses her even closer to him.
She nods, and leans her head against his chest, and looks up and the white ceiling. She's thinking about how much she loves this man, and how far they've come. How she would do anything for him, and vice versa. How, despite her superficial outlooks, and his drunken haze, they were able to find each other and create a bond so strong, that nothing could tear them apart. Not now, not ever.
Haymitch sits there, thinking about how lucky he is to be with a woman who loves him as he loves her. Sure they argue, and her uptight ways gets on his nerves sometimes, but he wouldn't change her for all the whiskey in the world. She's saved him from both himself and the dark. He buries his face in her hair, and breathes in deeply her scent, and he knows that he can't go on without her. Not now, not ever.
"I love you," he whispers into her hair. He can feel the hot tears stinging his eyes.
Effie hears Haymitch choke up, and she turns around and sees him crying. "Haymitch, are you okay?" She knows that it's a silly question. Neither of them were ever fully okay. She places a perfectly manicured hand on his cheek and bring his face up so she can inspect it. "Dear, what's wrong?"
He looks up this beautiful, naked, serene angel that belongs to only him. He wants her, desperately. Not in a sexual way. He just want her to be his forever. "I love you," he repeats.
She smiles sadly and strokes his cheek, "I love you too, Hay-"
"Marry me," he says suddenly, shocked at his own outburts, but he's happy now that it's out.
"What?" She's dazed and confused and honored and ecstatic and lovestruck at the same time.
He says it again, this time, more firmly, "Marry me, Effie Trinket."
Her heart expands, and tears stream down her eyes, and she throws herself again into her arms, causing the water in the tub to splash and spill over, but neither of them care. She presses her lips to his forcefully, and wraps her arms around his neck and his arms are rubbing up and down her bare back and both of them are crying.
They break apart, and Effie searches Haymitch's eyes because she wants to remember this moment for the rest of her life. "Haymitch..."
"Well?" he asks, and he's searching her eyes too because he wants to know what she's feeling, "What do you say, sweetheart?"
"Yes!" she squeals, and gives him another forceful kiss. When they break apart, in true Effie fashion, she wonders about the jewelry, "I can't wait to pick up my ring!"
He laughs, but then stops suddenly, deep in thought. "Excuse me for a moment," he jumps out of the bath and runs naked out of the room. Effie hears the sound of items being rummaged through, and she groans inwardly because she knows that he won't put anything away.
Finally, he returns, with a velvet box, and instead of getting back into the bath, he crouches next to the tub. Next to Effie. He opens up the velvet box, and inside, there's two silver rings. One is plain, the other has encrusted small, fake diamonds. He grins, "It was my parents' rings. It took my father two years to get the money to buy Ma those. Effs, I want them to be our wedding rings."
Effie is shocked and touched and flattered and speechless. She's amazed that Haymitch would give a memory of his family to her, and she knows how much this means to him. She stares at the rings, and realizes how beautiful they are.
Haymitch's smile disappears. How could he have been so stupid? This is Effie Trinket! She doesn't want some old piece of fake jewelry. She wants shining, real diamonds encrusted in a gold band. "Effie, you don't have to wear them. If ya want, we can pick out some real diamonds tom-"
He's cut off with a feverish kiss from Effie, and when they break apart he sees how happy she is. "Haymitch, I would be honored to wear your mother's ring."
"You would?"
"Yes, of course!" She smiles even wider, snatches his father's ring, grabs Haymitch's left hand, and puts it on him. Then, she holds out her slender hand, "Now, dear, put it on me."
He nods, and tries to contain his tears as he slips his mother's ring on Effie's finger. Once it's on, he kisses her, and smiles into the kiss. Then, he breaks the kiss, smirks, stands up, and picks up Effie bridal style. "Come on, Miss Trinket, let's celebrate."
She throws her head back and laughs, "And how do you propose we celebrate, Mr. Abernathy?"
"We'll find a way," he plants a kiss on her nose, and carries her to the bedroom.
...
Effie wakes up to the sun shining in the bedroom through the gossamer curtains, and she stretches, and stops when she sees the silver ring on her finger. She lays there for what seems like forever, looking at her engagement ring. It was beautiful, every part of it.
She starts when she feels Haymitchs arm grab her and pull her towards him on the bed. He's still groggy, but he wakes up a little when he realizes that Effie is perfectly naked in his bed, and he wonders if they could do a repeat of the night before. "Mornin' sweetheart."
She gives him a peck on this lips, and runs her hand through his long blonde hair. "Good morning, dear."
"Watcha thinkin' about?"
"How beautiful my ring looks."
He breaks into a wide grin, "You really like it, huh Princess?"
"I love it."
"I love you," he says, taking her hand, and kissing the ring on it.
Effie takes Haymitch's large hand in her small one and plants a delicate kiss on his palm, "I love you too."
"I love you more, future Mrs. Abernathy."
A/N: So, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Hopefully I'll have the next one up sooner. Please remember to leave a review on your way out! ^_^
