Okay, so this is chapter 14 :D

She watched the dial rise along in accordance to the elevator; in a few moments she'll reach the topmost floor. It is then only that she starts to rethink her actions and realize that escaping training is something that is both reckless and stupid to do. It is quite notable that she has the habit of not thinking things over which is quite common among prepubescent teens. She doesn't know if her parents will be able to forgive her on her past actions and her reckless behavior for today but she doesn't have much of a choice now. There's no turning back and she is well-aware of this and is willing to accept all possible consequences.

Her hands went cold when she heard the elevator doors open. She took a step onto their seemingly-empty penthouse suite and scanned the place with her eyes. A couple of minutes later she turned around and started to walk back towards the elevator. Haymitch, who just came out of the kitchen with a glass of wine, noticed his daughter and called out to her. Hearing her name called, Amaryllis turned around to face her father.

"Shouldn't you be in training, sweetheart?" Haymitch asked.

Amaryllis paused for a while to gather up her thoughts but this was useless for she suddenly found herself fumbling with her own words. Haymitch looked at her with concern and confusion.

"D-dad, I'm s-sorry for the way I acted... T-that was uncalled for." She stuttered.

She took in a deep breath and prepared herself for the worst. It's true that is is very likely that her father will forgive her but nevertheless, there is a possibility that this will not be the case. She however, didn't expect her father to laugh. She looked at him questioningly; wondering what could have made his father laugh like that.

"Oh sweetheart, you don't have to say sorry. Let's just shrug it off, no big deal." He said in reply.

Amaryllis smiled at her father and hugged him tight. "Thanks daddy!"

Haymitch hugged her daughter back. It's true that their relationship has been a little unstable for the past few days and it's true that his daughter has just escaped training but he knows better than to let that affect him in anyway. Besides, a little break from training might do her good.

"You know, you're mother might not take it as well as I did though." Haymitch stated as he loosened his hold on his daughter.

Amaryllis' eyes widened into the size of saucers when realization hit her. Of course reasoning with her mother will be a lot harder. Still, she knows that she must to it.

"Well, wish me luck then..." she said in reply.

"Will do, sweetheart... Will do..." he said right before dumping the contents of his glass down his throat.

She walked towards the door of her mother's bedroom. She gave her father one final look; asking him if she's really in there. He nodded in reply so she turned her attention back towards the door and gently knocked on it's wooden surface.

"M-mom, it's me- Amaryllis. Can I please come in?"

The doorknob turned and the door opened a little; just big enough for Amaryllis to slip through.

She went inside the room. Amaryllis has never been in her mother's room so her eyes immediately fell upon the room's decor. Unsuspectingly it was similar to her own room , the walls were painted white except for one that is completely covered with a mirror and the decors were modern yet simple. Unlike hers however, the drawers were lined with bottles filled with make up, skin creams and the like.

"Is there something you need, sweetie?" Effie asked.

Her mother's voice broke away her attention on the room. She looked up to her mother but instead of seeing the fancily dressed district escort she saw a blonde woman dressed in a simple slip, her face devoid of any sort of make up. Her honey blonde hair fell short at her shoulders and her face was starting to show the fine lines of age but they are barely visible and are most likely caused by stress than age itself.

Amaryllis thought that her mother looked beautiful but she can't help but think that her mother's looks looked extremely familiar. She gave a slight glance towards the mirror to confirm her suspicions. True enough, she was physically a younger version of her mother with slightly longer hair and gray eyes.

"What's the matter?" Effie asked with concern.

"M-mom... I-I'm sorry for the way I acted. That was really uncalled for. Can you please forgive me?" She said.

Effie gave her daughter a slight smile right before pulling her into a hug. It felt so good to hold her daughter in her arms once again. She knows well that time is fading fast and it is probable that she will never feel her warmth after the games. "Of course... In fact, I think that it would be us that owes you an apology."

"Oh mommy, it wasn't your fault. I think I might have overreacted." Amaryllis said in reply.

Effie led them to sit down on the edge of her bed. She smiled at her sweetly before replying. "Well, you're still a young child so that is completely understandable."

"Yeah, but still, I'm really sorry..."

"Listen, your father and I know that we aren't perfect. We're well-aware that the same rules applies to you. Your a good daughter though; better than I was actually but you still have flaws and we're more than willing to accept them. I hope you that you can accept our faults as well..."

"You know I do, mom. I very much do..."

"Good" She pulled her daughter in for another hug.

"I'm glad we had this talk..."

"Me too, sweetie. It's a good thing that they dismissed you earlier today."

"But they didn't." She said in reply.

Effie's eyes widened to the size of saucers, she loosened her hold on her daughter and glared at her. She was extremely disappointed with Amaryllis; she knows better than to escape training. What if she got caught? They could take it out on all of them and that could be an act that can cause her her own life which would deem all their preparations useless.

"You escaped training!?"

She noticed the change in her mother's tone and noticed the scowl on her face. Her heart raced; she is in no mood for a good scolding. She knows better than to lie though. "Ummm, I-I guess I d-did... I-I got carried away..."

"I'd say! Now let's go, your father needs to know about this." She exclaimed as she roughly dragged her daughter towards the door.

She abruptly opened the door and they both saw Haymitch leaning against the door frame.

"I take it things didn't go too well..." Haymitch said sarcastically.

"We have a serious situation here! Amaryllis escaped training..."

"So? she needs a little break once in a while." he replied.

"You do know that they might take it out on all of us!" She stated. It is quite obvious that she's starting to get annoyed with Haymitch as well. She had expected him to take their situation more seriously but maybe she shouldn't. He usually takes these things calmer than she does.

"It's just training; nothing too serious. How can they take it out on her anyways? On us? We didn't tell her to leave. They're already sending her to the arena. What more can they do, anyway."

Amaryllis noticed her mother glare at her father and it is noticeable that he's getting pretty annoyed too. Sensing a fight, she knew that she must do something to prevent them from arguing any further. "Mom, I'm sorry. I can go back to training if you want..." she said.

"Maybe you should..." Effie agreed.

Haymitch looked at the both of them and shook his head. "No, it wouldn't matter. You've already done and training will be over in a couple of hours. Besides, I think you really do need a break."

Amaryllis looked over to her mother and noticed that she has softened her gaze. It would seem that she has agreed to Haymitch's reasoning and there is no need for further explanation.

"So ummm... Mom, why are you half-dressed?"

Haymitch glanced towards Effie. His eyes filled with lust. Effie glared in reply. She turned her attention towards her daughter and said "Well, we're preparing to go out today while you and Max are in training and I was planning to change my outfit."

"Oh, can I come?" asked Amaryllis.

"Hmmm, I don't know. Effs, I think we should also stay. Maybe do some other activity..." Haymitch smirked.

"Haymitch! Not in front of our daughter." Effie warned.

"I don't think I'm the only one to blame, princess. Your clothing ain't exactly helping your cause."

Amaryllis, sensing the growing sexual tension between her parents took a few steps back and stammered "Maybe I should go..."

Effie knows that their current situation must be really awkward to their daughter so despite her growing desires she decided to do what's best. "No, I'll get dressed. You too, Amaryllis. We'll leave in a minute." she said before walking back into her room and closing the door shut.

Haymitch sighed in disappointment as he walked away from Effie's door. Amaryllis on the other hand, sighed and relief and happily walked back to her room to prepare.

"Mom, I still don't understand why I have to dress like this when dad doesn't have to..." Amaryllis said as she looked at her own reflection in the window of a fur shop.

Her mother made her wear a frilly pink and purple dress covered in sparkles and baby pink hair extensions were placed on her head. It was way too much for her simple tastes.

"It's obvious that Cinna didn't design this dress. It's way too simple." she said sarcastically.

Effie pulled her daughter away from the store window and exclaimed "Amaryllis don't do that. It's bad manners to use a window as a mirror." She looked around if anyone was close enough to hear; no one was so she crouched and whispered "I know you don't like this but no one must know that we brought you out here and please don't call me and Haymitch mom and dad for a while. Okay?" Her daughter merely nodded in reply.

"So what's our agenda?" Haymitch asked.

"Ah, I know this great ice cream place that I know Amaryllis will love. A thousand different flavors!" Effie exclaimed in excitement.

Amaryllis smiled in excitement. She had eaten ice cream before but she never knew that there could be over a thousand flavors.

They walked towards the said shop and Amaryllis ordered a mint chocolate vanilla sundae, Effie ordered a strawberry and orange sherbet and Haymitch had a rum raisin popsicle. The ice cream was delicious but that wasn't the main reason that made Amaryllis happy. For the first time in her life she felt like a normal girl; both of her parents are alive and their main concern was what ice cream flavor tasted the best. She knew that this moment will end soon and there's a possibility that this will never happened again but she has the present and right now, that's all that matters to her.

They all went back to their penthouse with smiles painted on their faces. Amaryllis was the first one to walk out of the elevator and the smile was quickly wiped away from her face when she saw Maximillian glare at her.

"Why'd you leave me to train alone w-with- with-" he stammered.

"Bailey?" she smirked.

"Yeah, it was annoying. She kept going 'Where did Maryl go?' Did I mention that her hand almost touched mine." he complained.

"Aren't you too old to believe in cooties?"

"I didn't say that I still do. All I'm saying is that I don't want to be with her. Is that so hard to understand?"

"What I don't understand is why you dislike her so much."

Maximillian sight in frustration. In reality he also doesn't know why. "It's hard to explain okay. I'll be in my room, call me when dinner is ready." he said before walking to his room and shutting the door tight.

Effie and Haymitch looked at their daughter questioningly to which she replied by saying that maybe Maximillian is just having some girl trouble.

Haymitch and Amaryllis stayed in the sitting room; watching some of the old games as they thought of a good strategy. Effie on the other hand decided to go to her room to rest for a short while. She was just getting herself comfortable when her computer started beeping; signifying a coming video call. Effie wondered who could ever call her but nevertheless she answered it. She was shocked to see that it was none other than Seneca Crane on the other line. Seneca had always courted Effie but she kept rejecting all of his advances for she loves no other man but Haymitch.

"Hi Effie, you're looking as lovely as always." he said.

"Mr. Crane, what made you call at this time?" She dislikes him but nevertheless she still tried to talk to him in a polite manner.

"Just an offer that you cannot refuse."

Effie tried to hold her temper. She's sick and tired of Seneca's advances. "I'm not interested in any of your gifts." she replied.

"Oh, I'm sure you'll be interested in this one. It's Erianthe's life." he smiled deviously.

Effie suddenly felt a tightness in her chest. She can hardly believe it; he knows about her daughter, there's no doubt about it. But what could the head gamemaker possibly want?

"W-who a-are you talking about?" she stammered.

"Oh, you know damn well who I'm talking about, dollface. I'll make this quick, marry me or goodbye mini Effie. Oh, and if you tell you're family about our little deal-well, you probably already know what will happen."

Effie remained silent. She knows well that, as the head gamemaker, Seneca is more than capable of saving her daughter's life but is she willing to give up her freedom and happiness for her daughter's life? She also knows that if she were to make the deal with Seneca she would leave Haymitch heartbroken, Amaryllis would be a wreck and would hate her for leaving Haymitch as well. This doesn't just concern her well-being but everyone else's as well. Is she willing to risk it all?

"Cat got your tongue? Tell you what, I'm giving you until tomorrow. I'll talk to you again after I rate the tributes. I'll see you around dollface." he said before signing off.

Effie kept staring at the blank screen; she's at a complete loss. She felt her heart shattering. If she were to agree to Seneca's plan can she still look at herself without disgust, knowing that she sold her freedom and dignity to a man she can't help but abhor? If she were to refuse and her daughter were to die can she still look at herself without disgust knowing that there was a way to save her daughter but she was too selfish to do it. She tried to stifle her tears but to no avail so she stopped trying and let them fall.

Maximillian; who was the only one at close range to hear the strange beeping heard their entire conversation. He knows that he must do something to help her. He would prefer that she refuse the deal but even he himself is unsure if that is the right choice.

Torn between crossroads; Is life better than the will to live?

Well, this chapter took me a while... -_- Anyway, since most of you seem to favor the mild seneffie I decided to include it. The whole deal thing was an idea that I got from nzlouise... Feel free to suggest guys ^_^ but don't feel bad if I don't take it.

Anyways, please review when you have time. Thank you for reading. I'm glad everyone seems to be liking this fic :D