Apparently, I have this written half way since December last year and then i completely forgot about it until yesterday! I hope you enjoy this :)

Date Night

"How about this?"

Haymitch glanced briefly over his shoulder to take a look at the dress before going back to rummaging through the drawer.

"The blue's better."

"This? It's so dark it looks almost black," Effie commented picking the said blue dress from her wardrobe. "Maybe I should ask the boys for their opinion."

"Found it. What do you think of this? I think we haven't watched it for a while now," he pulled out the thin packaging.

Her eyes flicked to him in the mirror's reflection, shaking her head affectionately at him.

"Ari's not eight anymore, Haymitch. I don't think she wants to watch Little Mermaid. What was it that you watch with her last month?"

"Aren't you the one who told me that no one is going to be too old to watch this. You watched it with her."

"Ari has no problem watching it with me. She has a problem watching it with you. You kept making fun of Ariel."

"She's a half-fish that talks," he countered.

"See," she glared at her pointedly.

"Fine," Haymitch concurred. "I'll think of somethin'. Wear the blue one. I like you in the blue dress."

"You like it but you're not the one taking me out on a date tonight," she grinned.

Still, Effie changed into the blue dress and when Haymitch saw her, he smirked. He ran a finger over the length of the zipper running down her sides.

"I'd ask you to wear the red dress but it's got no back and if I ain't gonna be there then I don't want anyone else starin' at you. This one's alright."

It made her laugh, tipping slightly on her toes. Effie rested her hands on his chest to keep her balance.

"The red is not a truly appropriate dress to be worn here in Twelve."

"True," he agreed. "Come on."

She slipped her arm into the crook of Haymitch's elbow, and her smile was so radiant it made him wish it was him she was spending the next few hours with. He led her down where the twins were waiting at the foot of the stairs.

In their button down shirts and freshly pressed pants, they look dashing. Ethan was wearing clean shoes, one that was not coated in mud and dirt. At the last step, Haymitch handed her over to Tristan.

"You look beautiful, mama," Ethan grinned.

"Ethan's right. You are," Ari nodded from where she was lounging on the sofa, watching her brothers with Effie. "I picked out the boys' shirts. That's why they look awesome."

Tristan waved her off, said goodbye to Haymitch and his sister and began to lead Effie out of the door.

"Bring her home by eleven," Haymitch called out, "and no later."

"Yes, sir," Ethan bowed mockingly as he exchanged a grin with Tristan.

XxX

Effie truly loved the monthly practice that they have, something she look forward to each time.

The boys made it their habit to take her out every month. They would take her to the meadow or dinner at Sae's restaurant or to just spend time with her. They opened doors, pulled out chairs for her and Ethan would often have flowers ready; all the things Haymitch hardly ever did for her.

They treated her like a queen and she was exceptionally proud that her children knew how to behave the way a gentleman would. One day, some girls would be lucky to have them, she thought.

As the boys and Ari grew and now well in their teenage years, they were involved in numerous activities in school and with their own social life they were not home as often as they used to be. Of course, they still spend time as a family during weekends but Effie often wished for more time to be with children.

But for a few hours every month, her boys were completely hers; no other commitments to school or friends. She had no obligations to share them with Haymitch either, just as Haymitch did not have to share Ari with her. On another day, they would switch with Haymitch spending hours with his sons and she would get to spend time with Ari.

"That should be it. We'll order desserts later or you know, surprise us," Ethan winked at the girl working in Sae's restaurant as he handed the menu back to her who despite the smile, rolled her eyes at Ethan's antics.

"I'll have something special for you," she said.

"You do that, sweetheart," Ethan grinned even though she had served his dessert with tobasco sauce as a joke the last time.

"Thank you," Effie smiled kindly at her before she went to the kitchen with their orders. "Any news yet on the competition, Tristan?"

"Not yet. I – I don't know if I'll make it through the next round. It's a nationwide competition so, you know," he rubbed the back of his neck in a gesture that was reminiscent of his father when Haymitch was nervous or uncomfortable, "it's tough."

"I've read the poems and prose you wrote," Ethan rolled his eyes. "They're good. I even made Lia read some of yours," he gestured at the waiter, "and she was blown away. You're gonna get through."

"What?" Tristan sputtered. "Why did you let...Is that why she's been looking at me all funny?"

"I think she's impressed," Ethan shrugged.

"Well, she should be," Effie said. "You're great, darling. You know you are. Even if you don't get through, the important thing is you tried. We will always support you. We're a family and that's what we do."

"I know," Tristan nodded. "Thanks. So, what's up with you and dad?"

"What do you mean?"

Ethan leaned forward, resting his folded his hands on the table. "You tell us, mama. We overheard you both talkin' about going away. What's this? Conspiring to leave your kids behind?"

"Don't be silly," Effie laughed.

She had a hand on the base of her throat and Ethan narrowed his eyes at that knowing that she was uncomfortable about something.

"Felix invited us to District Seven," she continued. "He recently expanded his resort in Seven, do you remember?"

"Yeah. He told us," Tristan said. "You should go. I think it's fun."

"Wait – He didn't invite us? We're his nephews," Ethan exclaimed, "and Ari's his niece. I'm hurt."

"I supposed he didn't tell you about one little detail then," Effie shifted in her seat. "This resort is not meant for children. It's for, well, it's for - "

Ethan wrinkled his nose. "It's fine. I think get it. I don't wanna think about it."

"Couples only? Lovers?" Tristan laughed. "You ought to go, you and dad. You deserve some time alone together."

He exchanged a look with his brother and Ethan's eyes twinkled.

"Yeah, mama, you should. I think it's a good idea."

"Leave the three of you unsupervised? I think not."

XxX

"I've watched Little Mermaid a billion times," Ari told him.

"Yeah, but I thought you love this movie."

"I love watching it with mum. You, on the other hand, you're exasperating. Sorry, can we watch something else?"

"Fine," Haymitch tossed it aside. "Choose somethin' then and you know the rules, there should be no makin' out or any of that nonsense."

Ari shot him an amused look.

"It's not like I've never seen someone making out before," she teased. "You and mama do it all the time."

"It's different."

"How so?"

"We're married," he deadpanned.

"So… I can't kiss any boys? Or make out with them?" she asked casually as she began selecting a movie to watch.

Haymitch narrowed his eyes at her. She bit the inside of her lips to stop herself from laughing.

"Why? Did you kiss any boys? Who is it? You're thirteen. You shouldn't be – I told your brothers to keep their eyes on you," Haymitch ranted. "It's the boy workin' at Peeta's bakery, ain't it?"

"Relax, dad. Let's watch Zombieland."

"Relax?! Did you kiss a boy? Your mother know 'bout this?"

"I didn't! You'll ground me right?" she asked. "Out of curiousity, when will I be allowed to –"

"When you're married."

"We'll see," she grinned. "Can we watch Zombieland now?"

"You know zombies don't exist, yeah?"

"Neither does mermaids," she shot back.

Haymitch raised both hands up. "I ain't the one obsessed with mermaids growing up."

Ari giggled. She fixed the movie and went to the kitchen to get their snacks before curling next to Haymitch. If Ari knew her father well, which she liked to think she did, she knew Haymitch would fall asleep before it ends and true enough, he was asleep before the third act.

She watched alone until the movie ended and was about to turn the television off when she saw the packaging Effie had shoved at the end of the rack, thinking it was out of view. Ari pulled it out and recognized it as something Aunt Jo had given her mother.

Fifty Shades of Grey.

She didn't know what it was about but it was definitely something her mother did not want her or the boys to watch.

She should have done a better job hiding it. It's not my fault then, Ari justified as she put it on.

She was half an hour into it before she decided it was definitely something that would get her in trouble…. Or her father. Knowing full well that Tristan and Ethan would be home with their mother soon, Ari left the movie on, and with a grin on her face, she went up to her room.

It was only a while later when she heard the door opening that she went back down and sat on the sofa as if she had not moved at all. Tristan walked in first and stopped short, his eyes darting from the screen to Ari.

The shrill scream made Ari cover her mouth to stop the giggles. Haymitch startled awake at the sound of Effie's voice.

"What happened?!" he glanced around wildly.

"What are you watching?" Effie demanded the pair of them before she rounded on Haymitch, clearly intending to put the blame fully on him. "Haymitch."

It took him a while to understand what was on the television screen and he glared at Ari. "Did you watch that while I was asleep?"

Ari shrugged and caved in at the look her father gave her. "No, I thought it'll be funny if you wake up to that."

"Okay, sweetheart, I swear we were watching something 'bout zombies. I didn't – Why would I let her watch that trash?" Haymitch defended himself against Effie. "I was all up for Little Mermaid, alright. You know that. You know that. Look, Effs, you shouldn't have that shit in the house in the first place."

"Johanna sent it to me and I just forgot to throw it away. Also, mind your language."

"Forgot? That's a convenient excuse," Haymitch argued.

"You shouldn't let our daughter watch something that is not suitable for – "

"I didn't put it on!" Haymitch insisted. He turned towards Ari. "You're in a lot of trouble. Go to your room."

Ari turned towards her brothers, a smug smile on her lips.

Tristan shook his head and as they climbed up the stairs towards their room, he said, "Stop pitting them against each other."

"They're hilarious when they're arguing."

"Good job, monkey," Ethan slapped her shoulder and gave her a high five. "He'll probably gonna take away some of your privileges now."

"It's alright. I've got a plan. I'll drive dad mad enough he probably wants me out of the house for a few hours so he can have peace."

"You're a devil," Tristan sighed.

In this one-shot, the twins are about sixteen and Ari's thirteen. I have a cousin who will take his mother out for dinner/movie, just the two of them every month and I thought it was sweet so that was my inspiration.