A/N: Hi! Welcome back! :) Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games, its plot, characters or world because I am not Suzanne Collins. :(

The In-Laws

"Haymitch! We've been invited for a meal with my parents!" Effie calls as she puts the phone down.

"I knew you had an ulterior motive. A relaxing holiday in the Capitol turns into Dinner with the monster-in-law," Haymitch groans. "Do I have to?"

"Yes. She wants to meet her son in law. Now, I want you in a suit, your hair brushed for once and using decent manners," she tells him, her eyes turning from worried to paranoid.

"Your mom is a monster," he grumbles. "I don't want to impress her, too. Getting you to take the smallest amount of notice was a pain. Besides, I'm not marrying her, I'm marrying you. I don't need her approval."

"Well, just meet her properly," she insists. "She'll love you now that you're sober enough to hold a conversation."

"Sober's going out of the window if I have to talk to your mother," he growls. "I don't like your mom, Princess. She looks down on guys like me."

"She looks down on men who don't act to their social standard," she corrects. "And you do. I believe you're an excellent rebel. That's what everyone sees you as and you're the biggest one I know."

"I don't know if I should be honoured or insulted, Princess," he mutters.

"Oh, darling, you know I'd never try to hurt you," she sighs and goes over to give him a hug, snuggling him. "If we don't go to her, she'll come here. And if we go to her, we can choose when to leave. I promise you that we'll only stay forty five minutes."

He growls, but holds her. "I hate you. I hate you so much. Forty five minutes of torture with her..." he whines.

"I know, sweetest. It's just a chance for her to see that you're a fantastic choice really. I just want to know that you'll be treated well," she whispers, nestling up.

"With her? I doubt it," he sighs, but cuddles her anyway. "I can't resist your cuddles. I suppose you'll use them to get me to go?"

"Yes," she agrees.

"Euphemia!" her mother shrieks.

"Mother! Father!" Effie exclaims, leading Haymitch over and hugging her mother, then her father. "Is everything okay?"

Her mother sighs dramatically. "You have no idea, my darling girl. Between your engagement, to a man I hope is a true gentleman and not that slob you favoured before the war, and the birth of your newest nephew, I wouldn't use such an understatement as okay. Try stunning, my girl! Now, your fiance. Tell me you've chosen high social status, money, brains and good breeding!" she exclaims.

Haymitch shrugs. "Well, I've got good status among the rebel cause, I'm richer than I know how to be, she's all the brain in this relationship and neither of us are much for kids," he tells her, watching her with evident dislike.

"Haymitch..." Effie warns, but pulls him close.

"Euphemia! You brought the drunkard!" her mother exclaims.

"He's six months sober," Effie protests. "Hardly an alcoholic any more."

"That's a funny joke, my girl. Come on, who is he?" her mother asks hopefully.

Effie sighs. "Mother, Haymitch and I are engaged," she tells her patiently. "We've been engaged since the end of the war. We're very happy together."

"No! Honestly, Euphemia, I raised you for better!" her mother exclaims. "I raised you for a high Capitol pedigree, not a District mutt!"

"You wanted me to marry a man forty years older and have his children, then raise them alone if he died so that you'd get money from me," Effie snaps. "I don't want that. You know my view of marriage."

"A childish notion of love and romance," her mother scoffs with a dismissive wave. "Tell your daughter, Valerian."

Her father just shakes his head. "They're happy, Naenia, I can't say no. You're being harsh with her. This man's going to look after her and love her properly. She deserves to be treated with the love she gives. Our girl was never meant to be a trophy wife," he tells her, watching how Effie nudges closer to Haymitch.

"What of grandchildren? We'll have halflings!" her mother exclaims.

"So? If they're healthy, our daughter survives it in perfect health and the children are raised with love and understanding, I don't care. And neither should you. Let the two be happy, will you? They've earned it," he assures her. "He's sobered up on her behalf. That speaks volumes in itself. Don't worry, kids, you've got my blessing. Not that you needed it."

"I still say it's wrong, Valerian," Naenia sniffs. "If you two do get married, don't expect to see me at the wedding. I'll always know my child was better off with a loving Capitol man instead of some dirty animal."

"Don't worry, Mother," Effie says coldly. "If you're going to stand on prejudice toward my incredible fiance based on his birthplace and refuse to see the lovely man he is, then I'm sad to say that we wouldn't want you at the wedding. Haymitch means the world to me and I hope that's reciprocated. We will send you cake. Haymitch, darling, I do believe we have an urgent meeting to get to with Peeta's head doctor."

Haymitch, grateful to have an excuse to get away from her mother, nods and stands. "Yeah, we do. Can't be late. Come on, Princess. Nice seeing you again, Mr and Mrs Trinket," he rushes out, then almost carries Effie from the restaurant. Once they're out of sight, he hugs her and asks "Do we actually have to see Peeta's head doctor?"

"No, don't be silly. I just wanted out. Having them talking about their grandchildren made me want to be sick," she tells him. "We've got enough with the kids in Twelve. Any child under twelve years old is too young for us."

"Agreed, sweetheart," he grins, stroking her soft blonde hair. "We'd better get home. I'm so sick of being outside."

"So am I," she sighs. "Next time, you're picking the activity."

"Thanks, sweetheart. And we're not meeting up with the in-laws again," he mutters.

"Agreed, darling," she murmurs back. She's had enough of her mother to last.

A/N 2: That's it for today! Please feel free to drop a comment on it if you enjoyed. **hugs** BlackCat46 out! xoxo