Hello everyone! This is the other chapter of the fic that I promised you! I'm sorry for not posting all of last week!
Please, guys, don't hate on Talia. She can't help needing Haymitch! :P
Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer (because I feel like I should do it): I do not own The Hunger Games. The characters and idea belong to Suzanne Collins. Apart from my OCs :)

Haymitch

I slammed the door of my room and threw myself down on the bed. A rush of emotions swirled around me. On one hand, I was angry at Effie's presumption that the girl would be alright. Or that she needed my help. But then, it seemed obvious that she'd think that. She was a Capitol girl, after all.

I thought about the newest addition to the Victor's group. Beautiful, brave young Talia. There was something about her that drew me in. But I didn't know what it was.

Effie thought that I could help her. Maybe I could. I knew what she was going through, and I could try and steer her down a path that didn't involve self-destructive compulsive drinking.

But why did I want to help her? She had no connection to me, I didn't even know her. Maybe it was because I saw in her a kindred spirit, one who had lost those that she cared about in a brutal fashion, as I had.

I decided that I would try to talk to the girl, to see what I could do. Maybe Effie was right, maybe I could help her.

I heard Effie's sniffs of sorrow as she padded down the corridor. Great, I'd hurt her again.

I was always going to hurt her, I realised. We were too different, with different experiences and views. Something she says is always going to annoy me, but it wouldn't even be her fault. She believed different things than I, all she knew was her Capitol.

But then again, she hadn't had the perfect life that I accused her of. I remembered her confession.

However, we were still too far apart in terms of lifestyle, experiences and beliefs. Could that kind of relationship really be healthy?

Wait, why was I thinking this? I loved Effie, right? It was just that some things that she said pissed me off!

I snarled under my breath at the futility of my mental processes, and downed another glass of liquor. I fell into a dreamless sleep, and woke with a massive headache, as usual.

I dressed and grabbed a bottle. Then, I made my way down to District Eight's apartment. I was confronted by Cecelia, who looked like she had been up all night.

"Hi, Haymitch. What a pleasant surprise! What can I do for you?" She said, trying to sound cheery.

"Cecelia." I nodded at her. "How's your girl doing?"

The smile slipped off her face. "Come in."

I strode into the apartment, and noted at how it didn't look any different from Twelve's. I sat on the sofa and took a swig of my liquor.

"She's been patched up, and she's in the other room, sleeping. I'm waiting for the sleep drugs to wear off, so she can wake up. Her first interview's tonight, but I'm not sure how she's going to handle it." Cecelia looked down at her hands, and started picking at loose flaps of skin near her fingernails. A nervous habit, I supposed.

"None of us handle it well. But I doubt she will be able to handle it at all." I muse.

She sighs. Then, we heard shuffling from the other room. Cecelia straightened up as Talia walked out of one of the bedrooms.

She looked different. She was slim, so slim that bones could be seen from under her top, her hair lacked lustre, and her face was pale. So pale that the dark bags underneath her eyes looked far more prominent.

Her green eyes rested on me, and recognition flashed in them.

A small smile settled on her face, and she spoke. "Hello, Haymitch Abernathy."

"You know me?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, I've watched you get drunk on TV many times before. I know you." Her mouth twisted into a sneer, and I chuckled. Of course she'd recognise me from the previous Games. I was the drunkard.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"I came to say welcome to the Victor's Club, sweetheart."

Cecelia gave me a deathly glare, and I corrected myself. "Actually, I came to enquire as to your health." I plastered a sarcastic grin on my face, and Talia actually laughed.

"If by my health you mean if I'm still mentally stable, then my answer is barely." She grinned.

I found myself really liking her. We had the same kind of humour.

"Talia. You have an interview later. Your prep team will be over in half an hour to get you ready. I'll let you spend that time with your new friend. I have some people to see." Cecelia said goodbye to us, and then left.

"Great, an interview. The one where I have to watch the recap of the Games. I'm so looking forward to it." Talia mumbles, putting her face in her hands. Suddenly, sobs racked her body.

This was the first break in the facade that I'd seen from her. I moved over to her and drew her into my arms. She stiffened, and murmured "ew, you smell."

I chuckled and carried on holding her. She needed someone to cry on. Lately, I'd been that person to cry on a lot. What was happening to me?

She drew away after a while, her eyes red and puffy. "What should I do? In the interview. What if I start crying?"

"Try not to. Maybe shed a tear or two at Mikhail's death, because you were in love, but don't start bawling. That'll only make you seem weak. And for God's sake, don't say any of what you said when the boy died. That'll only make things worse." I said, seriously.

"You mean when I called the Capitol monsters?" She let out a breathy laugh. "I won't."

"You'll get asked about that. Just say that the emotions were too overwhelming. You were so devastated that you didn't know what you were saying. And make it believable. Or else, the two boys won't be the only people that you lose."

She looked up at me in shock. I could tell that she knew about my story, but she was too frightened of what I might do to say it. I laughed.

"Thanks, kiddo. I appreciate it."

There was a pause, before she spoke again. "Why do you want to help me?"

This was it. Time to bear all.

"Because I like you, kid. You've got guts. It takes some backbone to yell obscenities at the Capitol. It also takes some backbone to fight, even when the one you love is in danger, or your friend has died. You could have killed yourself when Elijah died. But you kept fighting. You didn't give up. That's more than most seventeen-year-olds who were put in that position can say."

"I wish I had given up." She mumbled. "If I had given up, Mikhail may have been here now." A tear dribbled down her nose.

"I don't think so, sweetheart. If you had died, the Careers definitely would have finished him off. You killed Harley. If you had died, it would have been him and Briana versus Mikhail. You know how that would have gone."

She nodded slowly. "Yes, I suppose I do."

I directed her to the sofa, and we sat down. She gestured to my bottle. "Can I have some?"

I gave her a look that said "get your own", but then decided to let her try it. She probably wouldn't like it anyway.

She took a large gulp of it, and although she coughed, she managed to get all of it down. I was surprised. She knew how to hold her drink.

She moved to take another gulp, but I snatched the bottle back. "No, sweetheart. You don't want to be drunk for your interview."

"Oh yeah, the interview. My team should be here soon."

As if she had called them to her, her prep team swept in and ran to her. I drew back, cringing. Three hyped up, excited Capitol freaks made for an uncomfortable me.

"I'll see you later, okay?" I grabbed my bottle and made for the door.

"Haymitch?" She called, and I turned around.

"Thank you." She smiled at me, and it was a genuine smile and gratitude that reached her eyes. I smiled back.

"No problem. Come find me after your interview, I have a feeling you'll need some more of this stuff." I shook the bottle around. She laughed, and I left, feeling happy with myself.

I'd cheered her up, at least a little bit.

Effie

Where was Haymitch? He'd left before I was even dressed, which was shocking. I was always up and ready before he even woke up.

I milled around the apartment, getting stuff organised for Haymitch's return to District Twelve in two days. Again, I was feeling the loss already. However, with what happened recently, I was beginning to wonder if he felt the same way.

At around noon, Haymitch staggered in, holding his stomach as if he was about to throw up.

"Where have you been?" I asked, getting up to steady him.

"Talia. Then bar." He slurred.

I was startled. He went to see her? That's why he had gotten up so early? It made sense.

"How is she?" I asked, leading Haymitch to the sofa.

"Screwed up. Like I said. Putting on a brave face, but I can see right through it." He garbled, and then leant to the side and threw up all over the carpet.

"Oh, Haymitch!" I screamed, calling the Avoxes over to me. They cleaned the mess up as I helped Haymitch to his room. It seemed I would always have to do this.

"No! I'm staying here." He shouted, trying to backtrack. "Need to see television."

Talia's interview. That's why he wanted to stay.

We waited until the mess was cleared, and then I settled him on the sofa and tried to prise his bottle away from him. He clung on tight, but when I insisted that it would help him feel better, he let go.

Suddenly, the television flickered to life. Caesar Flickerman opened the show, and then announced the Victor of the 71st Annual Hunger Games as Talia Crosshatch. She walked onto the stage, and I was marvelled by how beautiful she looked.

"Wow, they cleaned her up well." Haymitch mumbled.

Her skin was flawlessly porcelain-looking, her hair was a fiery-orange shade, and her eyes were sparkling and large. She was wearing an exquisite silver dress that shimmered as she moved.

"Hello Talia!" Caesar said, shaking her hand.

"Caesar! It's great to see you again." She smiled.

I couldn't see what Haymitch was talking about, she looked fine. But I didn't say anything.

"Let's watch, shall we? This year's Games were probably one of the best yet!"

As they showed the replay of the Games, the footage was mainly Talia and her relationships with Mikhail and Elijah. As the footage went on, I could see that there were tears in Talia's eyes, but she fought hard to keep them in. I bet Haymitch had something to do with that angle.

When it got to Elijah's death, Talia let out a tiny sob, and then composed herself. The poor girl looked like she was about to burst into tears, and the hardest part hadn't even come yet.

Caesar was commenting on how good the Games were, how skilful Harley was when he drove his knife into Elijah's stomach, and Talia glared at him like she wanted to rip his head off.

"Selfish, insufferable man." Haymitch growled. "How could he say that in front of her?"

When it got to Mikhail's death, Caesar commented, saying "Now, here's the good bit folks."

Talia looked outraged. I could tell that she was fighting with her instinct to leap up and run away.

She looked away at the part where Mikhail died, a few tears spilling down her cheeks. Then, the footage ran out, and the interview was over.

"We'll see you tomorrow, Talia." Caesar said, moving to take Talia's hand. She flinched away, however, smiled and then walked off the stage.

"Bad move." Haymitch muttered.

Caesar signed off, and the television switched back to its normal programming.

We sat there, together.

"Haymitch." I sighed.

"Effie?"

"Did you help her with that?"

"Yes, of course. If I hadn't, she'd have been bawling on that stage. I told her not to seem weak, and she did just that."

"It looked hard for her."

"Of course it was hard for her. With Caesar saying all those stupid things, it's surprising that she didn't walk out earlier." He growled at me.

My heart sank. Was I losing him even more?

Before I could ask anything, there was a knock at the door. I got up and answered it.

Talia was standing there, still in that gorgeous dress. It looked like she had come directly here.

"Oh, hello. You must be District Twelve's escort." She smiled at me.

"Yes, Effie Trinket." I held out my hand, and she shook it.

"Talia Crosshatch."

"Yes, I know who you are."

"Is Haymitch here?" She asked, hope playing in her eyes.

"In here, sweetheart." Haymitch said from behind me. He was standing up now, walking towards the door.

Talia edged into the room, saw Haymitch, and let out a sob. Then, before I knew what was happening, she ran into his arms, and started crying.

Jealousy sprang through me. They'd only known each other for half an hour, maybe less. Why were they hugging one another?

"It was awful! I tried to do what you said, but... he kept saying those things, and I watched them die all over again and..." She trailed off, sobbing more into his shoulder. He was rubbing her back in circles, like he used to do with me.

"I know. I heard what he said. I wanted to rip his head off for you." He whispered, running his other hand through her hair.

I suddenly felt like a spare wheel, and that annoyed me. I should be the one in Haymitch's arms. Where did this all go wrong?

"How am I going to survive the interview tomorrow?" Talia asked, pulling away from Haymitch finally.

"Oh that'll be easy!" I pipe in. "Just answer the questions that Caesar asks you truthfully, and you'll be fine!" I say it as cheery as I can, in the hopes of cheering her up. However, this only succeeds in getting me a glare from Haymitch.

"Answer them in a way that doesn't get you killed. Remember what I said. You need to make them believe that you lost control with grief. That your actions were all out of grief." He turned back to her, completely ignoring everything I said.

"Okay." She whispered, and put her head on Haymitch's shoulder, wrapping her arms around him.

Jealousy reared its ugly head again. What was I doing wrong? Surely my answer was good, she should just be truthful. And what gave her the right to hug him? Suddenly, I didn't like her so much anymore. Actually, I didn't like her at all.

"I should go." Talia said, finally.

Yes! She was leaving! I needed to talk to Haymitch, and badly.

"Alright, sweetheart. Do you want me to come see you tomorrow, to go through your interview strategy?" He said, and he looked absolutely serious. Even the "sweetheart" wasn't sarcastic.

"Yes, please." She hugged him again. "Thank you so much, Haymitch. I don't know what I would have done without you today."

Then, I let her out.

"Bye, Effie. Nice meeting you." She gave me a sweet smile, but I wasn't buying it.

"Nice meeting you too, Talia. And congratulations." I smiled, secretly wishing her ill.

When I shut the door, Haymitch groaned.

"Congratulations? Really?"

"Well, yes. She survived. So she deserves to be congratulated. Is there something wrong?" I felt indignant anger rise up within me. Why was he speaking to me this way?

"No. Just that congratulating her isn't going to help right now." He threw himself down on the sofa.

I didn't want to say it, but the need to say what I was thinking was too great.

"So, when did you start becoming so friendly with Talia?" I tried to sound casual, but I don't think it worked. Haymitch chuckled.

"Earlier. I went to help her, like you suggested. She seemed to respond to it rather well." He took a gulp of his liquor.

Oh yeah, I did tell him to help her. That was the last time I suggested anything to him.

"Does she have to cling to you so much?" I asked, tentatively.

"Well, considering she's just been through hell and back, if she needs to be clingy, I'm not going to stop her." He shrugged his shoulders.

And that was it. An admittance. That he wanted her to hug him. He wanted her to be near him.

"Haymitch, do you love me anymore?" I blurt out, so conflicted with all these feelings that I needed to hear him say it for me to believe it anymore.

His head snapped around, his grey eyes connected with mine. His face showed his confusion at my outburst.

He tried to stand, but ended up wobbling around. Eventually, he gave up and sat back down.

"Eff, where has this come from?" He asked, still looking at me.

That wasn't what I wanted to hear. Not at all. I wanted him to run to me, draw me in his arms, and tell me that he loves me more than anyone else in the world. Instead, it was like he was confirming his original statement. Did he feel something for Talia?

"You... and her." I mumble.

Suddenly, he's on his feet. But he doesn't stride over to me. He paces around.

"I'm only trying to help her. You were the one who suggested it. And now, suddenly, you're accusing me of feeling something for her?" His eyes were angry and dark. I was slightly afraid of their fire.

"Well, you seem to like her alot." I mumble again, scared of what he'll say or do.

"Of course I do. She's like me, isn't she?"

"And I'm not." I said, looking up at him. I understood now. He cared for her because they'd been through the same things. And now, he had realised that she was someone better for him. Rather than me, the prissy Capitol girl who knew nothing of pain or suffering. Except that I did. I knew a lot about pain and suffering. Just not his kind.

"Well, you know you're not, Eff. I do love you. I do. It's just that... I feel... connected to Talia. I don't know why, but there's something about her that makes me want to help her. She's so... vulnerable, you know?" He appealed to me, coming to within a few feet of me. His eyes had softened.

He said that he still loved me. But this connection that he felt to the girl... it scared me. Could he love me when he felt that close to Talia?

"You've only just met her." I said, matter-of-factly.

"Yes, but there's something about her." He whispered.

"She's beautiful." I hoped that he disagreed.

"Yes, she is. But that's not it. She's been hurt so badly, that she just needs someone to help her. You understand, right Effie?"

"Yes." I whispered, but inside, my heart was breaking. He didn't seem to get it.

"Just don't get too close to her." I mumbled.

"I won't." He pulled me into his arms. I stiffened for a bit, but then I relaxed into him. I didn't want to lose him even more.

We spent the rest of the day in the apartment. I arranged for dinner for the both of us, and dismissed the Avoxes early, insisting that we didn't need them anymore.

Dinner was a time where we could just talk. However, as romantic as the setting and the food was, there was still a wedge in our relationship. It was still awkward.

We went to bed together, but ended up on different sides of the bed.

I awoke to knocks on the apartment door.

"Haymitch! Open up!" I heard Cecelia shouting.

Haymitch groaned, pushed his hair back from his face, and then got up to answer her.

When he opened the door, in nothing more than boxers, I could see Cecelia's eyes widen a bit as she took in his body. But she righted herself, and spoke.

"It's Talia. She needs you."

"What's wrong with her?" He asked, his voice full of concern.

"She's having terrible nightmares. She woke up and insisted that I get you."

Jealousy spiked through me again. It was the middle of the night! Surely the girl could wait until morning.

Haymitch swept past me with purpose, to get his dressing gown, and then followed Cecelia out the door.

He turned back just as he was about to disappear. "I'll be back later, okay?" And then he mouthed "I love you" as he disappeared from view.

I stood there, watching the space where he had disappeared. He had left me. For her.

I knew that I was exaggerating. The girl needed him. He understood what it was like to have nightmares, and he knew how scary it was. But I couldn't help thinking of him, curled up in bed with her, instead of me. Him wrapped around her as he comforted her into sleep. Them confessing their love for each other...

No, stop it, Effie! I shouted mentally. I needed to stop being paranoid! They were just friends! He was only helping her, like I had told him to. I wish I had never said anything now.

Hot tears dribbled out of my eyes, and I went back to my own room this time, not wanting to be in his room alone.

Images plagued my mind when I closed my eyes. The two of them together. It was unbearable. What a nice couple they would be. The two Victors, finding love with each other. I could imagine the Capitol coverage of it already.

I pushed all thoughts of that out of my mind, and settled down to sleep.

Effie is just a wee bit paranoid! :P Poor Effie!
I hope you guys enjoyed it!
Please review, it makes my day, and makes me smile! :)
Thank you for reading! x