It took nearly two weeks for Haymitch to get the downstairs cleaned up enough for Effie's standards. Much to Effie's dismay he refused to let her lift a finger to do anything, constantly reminding her of the bedrest she should be on. Effie always hated that and took an attitude for several hours. It took 3 days alone just to take care of the kitchen. Haymitch had to cave and let Effie sit at the kitchen table and dictate which cabinets would be used for certain things.
Being the bachelor that he was, there was simply no organization to the rooms. The kitchen being ultimately the worst of all. Peeta would drop by and help for a while each day before he went off to help in his families bakery. Katniss made herself available when she wasn't helping Prim or her mother with things.
The routine they had all settled on worked well for the three Victors. Katniss always hunted in the mornings, Peeta brought fresh bread and treats. They'd always stop in during the mornings to see Haymitch and Effie. Prim and Katniss' mother would come around fairly often to check on Effie and the baby. Katniss and Peeta frequented Haymitch's house very often which made Effie happy. They'd come over for meals, which Effie discovered she quite liked cooking for them. More often they'd come over in the middle of the night when nightmares would wake them or prevent them from sleep.
Haymitch was spending quite a lot of time outside with Peeta in a building at the back of his yard. Effie had just gotten back from visiting with Prim who liked to do Effie's visits and talk with Dr. Lowery on the tablet. Effie was relieved that Dr. Lowery allowed Prim and Katniss' mother to do her checkups as long as nothing seemed to be going wrong.
It was raining again, and Effie trudged through the back yard to the shed. "Haymitch?" She asked as she opened the door.
He hurried over and blocked the door. "Effie, is everything okay?" He looked worried and touched her stomach.
She nodded, "Everything is fine. What are you doing out here all the time?" She tried to peek over his shoulder. She could hear Peeta in there as well.
Haymitch looked back and then to Effie. "Close your eyes." He waited and then took her hands and led her inside. It smelled like paint and wood in the shed.
"Open." He said as he positioned her in a spot.
Effie opened her eyes and looked around. She spotted what had been keeping the two of them busy for so long. "You made these?" asked incredulously. She went over to a beautiful rocking chair. It was finer than anything she could have bought in the Capitol. Next to the chair was a crib, and other furniture for the baby. A changing table, a dresser, and shelves. They were painted white and accented with a soft yellow hue.
Peeta was painting the side of the dresser, Haymitch nodded, "Well a friend at the hob gave us the wood. The kid here can pain anything, and we're both pretty handy with tools."
"This is why you always changed the conversation when I would bring up the nursery!" She beamed and ran her hands along the rails of the crib. They were magnificent. "I can't believe it. Thank you!"
Haymitch wasn't usually affectionate with her in front of Katniss or Peeta, but today was an exception. He kissed her quickly as she fawned over the details of the woodwork. "We'll be taking them into the nursery today. Peeta painted it yesterday. I think you'll like it." Effie kissed him quickly and wrapped her arms around him.
"Having things to do helps with the nightmares. Katniss has even come over a few times to help sand the wood or paint the easy stuff." Haymitch explained and gently ran his hand over her still growing stomach. After almost a month here in 12, Effie had gotten bigger again. Which she complained about greatly, but he loved it.
He walked back to the house with Effie, "How was the checkup?"
Effie smiled, "Good. 5 months. It started kicking today." She held his hand as they walked through the rain.
"Dr. Lowery wants me to come to the Capitol for my next check-up. He wants to run some tests and check on my overall well-being. I booked tickets for the train for us, I'm hoping you'll come with me."
"Kicking?" He stopped and pressed his hand to her stomach.
"I'll let you know the next time it happens." She smiled.
Haymitch opened the door for her and they walked into the living room. "I'll go with you. As much as I hate the place. I'll go with."
Effie smiled and kissed him, "Thank you.." She sat on the couch. "The doctor said we can find out what the baby is at the visit."
Haymitch was quiet for a second then he shook his head, "I don't want to know. That's how it's supposed to be. It's supposed to be a surprise, Eff."
Effie huffed, "You can't plan for a surprise or decorate. You can't expect me to wait 9 months to know how I'm supposed to decorate the nursery."
He laughed, "The nursery is almost done, Effie." He pointed out, "Yellow can be a boy or a girl color. You said it yourself the other day. Yellow is warm and cheerful."
Effie ran her hands over her belly, "Haymitch, do you know how maddening it is to not know what I'm having?"
"Please, Eff." He took her hands into his. "I'd like it to be a surprise. I know you like to plan and everything. Think how exciting it'll be when he or she gets here."
She sighed heavily and looked over at him pleadingly.
"You can wait, c'mon Eff. Do it the old fashioned way."
Effie rolled her eyes, "There's a reason it's called old fashioned. It went out of style." Being the modern woman she was, she was very open to non-conventional approaches and new technologies.
"I'm old fashioned." Haymitch replied.
"Well you're also old, so there's that." Effie retorted and shook her head.
He laughed, "I am not old."
"Older than me." Effie smiled.
"I'm dragging you along with me, you'll be 30 in April." He grinned and pointedly waited for her to react to his prodding about her age.
"Correction." Effie huffed, "I'll be 29 in April. I am not 30 yet. Doesn't the phrase, 'over the hill' apply to you now?"
He tossed a pillow at her and groaned, "That's 50, darling. I've got 10 years to go."
Around the 2nd month of her being there, Effie was stir crazy and seldom left the house. It was early afternoon and Effie found Haymitch snoozing on the couch in the living room. The tv going and the pile of laundry he promised he would fold was undone. Her tablet was in her hand and she chewed her lip nervously. It was easy to forget her tablet when she was so far removed from the Capitol. Effie padded into the room and sat down on the other side of the couch. She plucked at her shirt and rubbed her belly a little. Haymitch had been feeding her 3 square meals a day. Peeta had a bad habit of bring her treats from the bakery. She had developed strong cravings for sweet breads and anything with cinnamon in it. Needless to say she looked very much pregnant now. At nearly 6 months along she finally stopped fighting anyone who suggested she needed to relax. She was tired easily and looked forward to a nap or two a day.
"Remember I have my appointment tomorrow in the Capitol." Effie said to Haymitch quietly.
He nodded, "How early do we have to get up?"
Effie clicked on her tablet, "It's an early appointment. I bought us tickets for the train a few days ago. We'll have to stay over in the Capitol tonight. The train leaves in a few hours."
Haymitch didn't really want to spend any time over night in the Capitol, but it seemed important to Effie and he did want to make her happy. "Stay where? A hotel?"
Effie breathed softly, and approached a topic she hadn't yet discussed with him, "Well no.. We'd stay at my place."
He countered back quickly. "You sold it remember." He had gotten used to Effie being spacy at points throughout the day. She always laughed and said the baby made her forget things.
"I didn't." Effie answered. She watched him tense up and look at her. "Before you get upset, listen. I couldn't get anyone to buy it. I was afraid to sell it though. I need to think about this clearly, Haymitch. We're not married and god knows what could happen in the next years for us. I kept it in case something like this happened. We have a place to stay that's nowhere near the tribute center. It'll be better for you, that way you don't have to deal with physical reminders. Please don't be mad.. Cinna checks on it every couple of days. It's inexpensive, it costs almost nothing for rent because of my job."
Haymitch just looked over at her. Effie sighed and crossed her arms. "We could have talked about it if you had answered my calls those first weeks after the games."
"So now it's my fault because I didn't answer the phone?" He said snappishly.
Effie widened her eyes, "Haymitch, I'm not accusing you. Please, just listen." She said calmly. "We have to be smart. There are a lot of unknowns for us when this baby arrives. What happens during the games? I don't want to bring the baby to the tribute center. I can imagine where or who would care for the baby during the games. No active escorts have ever had children for a reason. My apartment allows me some leverage."
He nodded slowly and looked at the clock, "When do we have to leave?"
Effie glanced at her tablet again, "Train departs in an hour."
"You rest, I'll pack a bag." He kissed her forehead and went off to pack. Effie slowly went to find her boots and a jacket. It was late October now, and District 12 proved to be chilly and rainy.
It was a long walk to the train, or at least to Effie it felt that way. She had begun to have a sort of waddle as she walked now. Her belly was more pronounced and she carried more weight. On the train, Haymitch was relieved that they were the only ones traveling. They had the car to themselves. He hung up their jackets and found a stool for Effie to put her feet up. He sat next to her and slumped back in his seat. He shut his eyes and the train rocketed through landscape. It would be later in the evening when they'd arrive in the Capitol. It was a quiet ride for many hours until Effie sharply stirred next to him.
Her hands flew to her stomach and she winced. Haymitch sat up, "What's wrong?" He asked quickly.
Effie panted and held her side. "Your baby is annihilating my ribs." She whined and grabbed his hand.
Surely enough a few seconds later a very strong kick landed where his hand was. He smiled softly, and moved his hand around her stomach. He laughed as the baby was feeling very active inside her. She shut her eyes and leaned back against his shoulder. About an hour later the train stopped. It was nearly midnight when they arrived. Effie blearily stood up and put her jacket on. Once on the street, it was a short walk to her apartment.
Haymitch walked beside her, not too close. Effie looked over at him, "I wish I could hold your hand." She sighed.
Here in the Capitol she had to go bac to hiding her feelings. No one besides Cinna knew of her involvement with Haymitch. She had to pretend to be carrying Seneca's child, and be mourning his death. He nodded, "Wait until we're inside."
Effie typed in a code and got into her building. She led Haymitch to the elevator and up to the top floor. She typed in another series of numbers and open the door. She was immediately greeted with packages and bags all over the floor. She frowned and stepped inside.
"What is all of this?" Haymitch picked up one and read the note on it. "Congratulations, Effie. Can't wait to meet the little one!"
Effie picked up a few and peeked at the things in the bags. She smiled, baby things. She had forgotten that many of her friends would be excited to learn she was pregnant. Cinna must have been delivering gifts and packages for a while now.
Haymitch looked overwhelmed. "All of this stuff for a baby?" He looked lost.
"Babies need lots of things. I have very thorough friends." She peeked at another bag and pulled out some onsies. She gasped and giggled over them.
"Haymitch, look!" She held up a blanket nearly matched the patterns Peeta painted on the dresser for the nursery.
"I think I should leave you to your devices.." He said quickly.
"No!" Effie said, "Sit with me, we need to pack this all up and get it to 12." She started sorting through the bags and packages.
Haymitch initially protested but soon found he could be useful collapsing boxes and throwing out wrappings. Effie took almost an hour to pack up the things into a suitcase. Haymitch looked a little in over his head. Effie took notice.
"You okay?" She asked quietly with a big yawn. She was sprawled out on the floor beside the suitcase.
"I know nothing about babies." He said evenly. He held up a bottle of something that appeared to be something for bath time.
Effie rubbed her stomach, "I read something a while ago. Men really don't know how to act or father until the moment they hold their baby. Women are different. You'll be fine Haymitch. I'd be more than happy to give you the books I've read."
"When have you ever seen me read a book, sweetheart?" He laughed and stood up. He gently pulled her up and kissed her quickly.
"Oh, never." She laughed and tugged him toward her room.
"Taking me to your room already? Be careful, you'll end up pregnant if you act like that." He teased.
Effie scowled, "What are you talking about?" She nudged her door open.
"Meeting strange men on a train, bewitching them and taking them home with you." He smirked and kissed her neck.
"Haymitch." She laughed and pushed him away, "I don't get you." She headed into her bathroom and found pajamas. When she came back out, Haymitch was in bed with his hands tucked under his head.
She slid into bed and leaned over to kiss him. "Goodnight, Haymitch."
She turned off the lights and settled down, until Haymitch rolled over and slid his hand across her hip. His lips found their way to her neck and his hand snaked inside her leggings.
Effie sighed, "Haymitch…" She warned. It was late and he always did this at night. He smiled against her shoulder and tugged her leggings down. "It's late, we have to be up early."
He rolled her over, and smiled. "Are you saying you don't want this…" He knew exactly what he was doing when his fingers slid her leggings off.
"Shut up and kiss me!" She huffed and leaned into him. He climbed over her and kicked off his boxers.
He kissed her hard and settled between her legs. He stroked himself once before sinking into her. Effie moaned already and captured him in a kiss.
"Insatiable." He teased and thrust into her quickly.
Effie rested her hands on his hips, "No, it's you who can't keep your hands to yourself."
He smiled wickedly and groped her freely with his hand that didn't support his weight over her. Effie gasped and arched under him. As she neared the 3rd trimester, she was hypersensitive to his kisses and touches. Haymitch knew this and used it to his advantage very often.
He thrust rhythmically into her as she gasped, "I haven't done anything you haven't wanted. Tell me I'm wrong sweetheart. You like it." He groaned against her neck.
Effie gasped and pulled his hips. She did like it. She kissed his deeply, being almost worked up to her climax. Haymitch smiled, "C'mon, Effs, tell me you like it." He nipped her neck.
"I like it!" She gasped and came as soon as he nipped her neck.
"That's it." He gasped and thrust into her fluidly until he came.
Effie panted and turned to cuddle him. She rested her head on his chest and smiled. "See now you'll sleep so much better now. You always do after." He kissed her forehead.
Effie smiled softly and settled down to sleep.