So this is the 'alternate' plot I was considering for a little while. Besides it being WAY too melodramatic, I thought it was too complicated. I suppose what I mean is, this subplot would've taken away from the main story far too much and I wasn't really happy with it. But I did try writing it out. As I mentioned on tumblr, this was a complete one-off. There are kinks I didn't work out, etc. Mostly, I wrote this just to see what would happen if Effie was pregnant and actually delivered while in captivity. And as I said, I didn't like it. Too convoluted. But here it is, since I said I'd post the random possible plot change a while ago.
Also! I'm taking a week off before I start writing the new requests I've gotten. So, if you've requested something - it's saved on my desktop - no worries! I'll get to writing them after the short break. :-)
Effie knelt in front of Rosie, fixing her warm wool cap on her head. She straightened her little white socks and tucked her collar back into her coat. Rosie sat on the bench outside of Plutarch's office, rocking her legs back and forth while her mother fussed over her.
"Effie?" Plutarch called out.
"Coming!" Effie turned back to her daughter. "Sit here like a good girl for mommy, okay?"
Rosie stared at her with wide grey eyes and nodded, putting her thumb in her mouth. Effie kissed her forehead and stepped into Plutarch's office.
"All ready to go, then?" Plutarch said.
Effie nodded. "Very."
She had changed so much in two years. She was a frail woman, a nervous woman. Constantly worried about her daughter, the only thing she felt she had left in the world. Barred off from any contact with Haymitch and now being able to go to him and take their daughter home - it was overwhelming.
"You're train leaves in just an hour. We've already moved your luggage on board." Plutarch handed her the tickets. "You're free to go."
Effie felt unable to speak for a moment, but finally she thanked him.
"I'm told Peeta will be picking you up from the station."
Effie found herself unable to relax for the entire trip to District Twelve. She kept her spirits up for Rosie, who was excited to watch the passing scenery, and who slept well with the hum of the train. But Effie couldn't sleep. She laid away, stroking Rosie's curly dark hair and thinking …
What would it be like?
When the train pulled into the station, Effie moved out of the way so porters could take care of her luggage. She lifted Rosie into her arms and hesitantly made her way to the door.
The brisk air surprised her - she stepped onto the platform and looked around at the almost familiar sites - and the rebuilding. Rosie's head rested against her shoulder. It was almost her nap time.
"Effie?"
Effie turned and saw Peeta walking towards her. He hadn't recognized her at first.
"Oh my god - is that …" Peeta glanced at Rosie, who had now fallen asleep.
Effie nodded.
"She's beautiful, Effie."
"Thank you, Peeta … it's so good to see you."
"It's a relief to finally see you," Peeta said, embracing Effie carefully so he didn't disturb the sleeping girl. "Since we heard you were coming it's been … well, insane. I don't think Katniss has barked out so many orders before."
"I hope I'm not an inconvenience -"
"Don't think that, Effie. We're so glad to just have you both here. Both home."
"And … um … Haymitch?"
"At the house with Katniss. Sober - don't worry."
"I'm … I'm not. It's just …" Effie shifted Rosie gently in her arms.
Peeta reached out and put his hand on Effie's shoulder. "It'll be all right."
The ride to Victors' Village was bumpy - it woke Rosie up, but she wasn't fussy. She was shy, though, when Peeta tried to say hello. She buried her face against, Effie, who did her best to coax her away. When they arrived at Peeta's, Effie felt her legs shaking underneath her as she let Rosie walk on her own up to the porch.
"She's not very stable yet," Effie said, lifting her daughter back into her arms when Peeta opened the door for them. "Thank you."
Effie stepped inside. The house seemed quiet. Then, Katniss came out of the kitchen.
"I thought I heard the door … oh, Effie!" Katniss hurried to her. "And -"
"Rosie," Effie said.
"Rosie. She's just perfect - isn't she?" Katniss laughed. "She looks so much like Haymitch it's kinda scary."
"Yeah, I didn't say that," said Peeta as he passed Effie and Katniss. "Where is he anyway?"
"Feeding the damn geese. Like they needed to be fed this minute." Katniss turned back to Effie. "Come into the kitchen - Peeta's made lunch, I just brewed coffee. We have juice if Rosie wants something to drink."
"That would be -" Effie was cut off, hearing the door open behind her.
She felt her heart stop. Rosie had already turned around in her arms and was hiding her face. Effie turned slowly, her face looking down.
"I … I was just going to put out lunch," Katniss said. "Joining, Haymitch?"
"Yeah. Guess so."
Katniss left them.
Slowly, Effie put Rosie on the ground, helping her stand up right. "Rosie, sweetie, you remember your daddy? You remember who I told you about?"
Rosie nodded.
"That's him - right there."
Rosie turned around, but then back to her mother quickly.
"Rosie …" Effie gently moved her away. "Rosie, go say 'hello.' He'd like that."
Rosie turned around again and looked at Haymitch. She scrunched her face and did as her mother said. She walked to him, looking up with eyes that matched his.
"Hi," she was able to say.
Haymitch knelt down slowly. "Hi," he said back, holding out his hand. Rosie reached forward and let him shake hers. She laughed.
Haymitch glanced up at Effie, who was in tears already. She ran to Haymitch and he stood - catching her in an embrace just in time. He held her tight - so tight.
"Mommy?" Rosie asked, tugging on Effie's dress. "Mommy!"
"Sweetie …" Effie bent down and picked Rosie up. Haymitch couldn't help reaching out, brushing her cheek to make sure she was real. "I'm okay," Effie told her daughter, who was wiping the tears off her cheeks with her small hands. "I'm happy!"
(note: yeah, I know you're all going to be like HAYFFIE BABY and then sadness - but, I'll say this. Rosie didn't just come out of thin air for this small bit. And that's all I'm saying.)
