Effie had overheard Katniss telling Peeta about her argument with Haymitch after dinner. She wasn't meant to - but their voices carried and the moment she heard 'capitol escort' it felt as though her blood had run cold.

"Ha - I told the girl you'd be back."

Effie stood in the doorway of their house, watching as he picked at the leftovers he had warmed up for dinner with his fingers. He was leaning against the wall, keeping his eyes on the plate he was holding.

"Always come back," he said. "Always have."

"What's wrong with you, Haymitch?"

He laughed.

"I mean it. What's wrong with you?"

"I don't know why you're asking. You pretty much spelled it out yourself."

"When I said what I said to the healer, I didn't mean that I regretted Rosie or that I in any manner believed us to be incapable of raising a child. I was worried that a child we'd raise, that a child that loved us would … stop loving us. That's what bothered me. But … you don't see me self-destructing. I'm trying to deal -"

"Yeah, well you've had it pretty easy, princess."

"What does that mean?"

"You didn't kill -"

"I just as well have."

"You don't know what it's like!"

"I don't!" Effie wiped her eyes. "I don't - but you of course do! Don't you? And that was the point! We're going to have to tell her what happened one day! We're going to have to explain why we did the things we did to survive -"

"Oh, sweetheart, if you think putting on a wig -"

"We'll forget what happened to me in the months I was in the Capitol, then? When you were in Thirteen?"

"Eff, that's not -"

"I may not have killed with my own hands - but I called those children's names. And I paid the price. And I fought for the rebellion in the only way I could, which was to let the Capitol kill me rather than tell them anything. To let them take me away so you could get on that damned hovercraft!"

Haymitch was silent.

"This … whatever it is you're doing. Drinking again. Yelling. Cursing the Capitol that no longer exists. You didn't have to do it. I wanted to talk. I wanted to figure out how we were going to get through …" Effie shook her head. "Maybe it was all just … silly of me."

Haymitch shook his head. "But you came back. You're here."

Effie shook her head. "I didn't come back, Haymitch. I came to get my things."

Haymitch watched her pack in silence. He wasn't going to stop her. It was better she left. Better she got away before it all spiraled out of control.

"Leave the bags," Haymitch muttered. "Let Peeta get 'em and carrying them over to the house for you."

"He'll carry them to the truck. I've already asked."

Haymitch looked up from his hands. "The truck?"

"I'm leaving. I'm … I'm leaving District Twelve."

"What - Eff -"

"Did you think I was just going to live next door and raise your child? How convenient for you! No. If you're going to do this … if you're going to drink and wallow in this house, Rosie is not having any of it. She won't be anywhere near here."

"And where are you going to go? Eff, you can't -"

"I'm going to District Four. I've already made a few calls and Annie will be able to -"

"Effie, don't!" Haymitch fell from the chair onto his knees, crawling to her feet. He grasped her around the stomach, holding tight. "No … don't … don't go that far - I didn't …"

Effie's hands were raised - unwilling to touch him.

"It was silly of me," Effie said, holding back tears. "It was silly of the Capitol Escort to think that."

She felt Haymitch's grip loosen.

"Effie … I … I didn't mean it when I said …"

"But you said it. You said it to Katniss. And there must be some part of you that thought it. Let go …" She felt hot tears fall down her cheeks. "Let go …" She pushed his arms away. He was crying.

"Eff … I don't know what to do."

"Neither do I …"

Haymitch was holding onto her again. Effie's hands now gently rested on the mess of dark hair that hadn't been washed for days. "Neither do I …" she said again, her voice trembling.