Alright, this is the new chapter! I hope you'll like it :)

After I tried the new look on chapter 37, I decided to edit the entire story, it's really so much better to read now! I have to thank you "in public", TheGirlWhoWasOnFire21, for your very good piece of advice.

Also, those of you who want more because you're not at all (very) young readers -for example LadyNobleSong ;)-, I'm planning on another, more adult version of Hayffie. I will publish this fanfiction as soon as "Effie and Haymitch" is over.

The character of the Avox is dedicated to one of my dearest German readers, KatnissTheFireball, who invented the flawless personality of Maryna and the one of her little daughter Lily.

Lots of love and kisses, Sarah

It was a few weeks later when Effie realised that she was pregnant.

She woke up and yawned, and then she felt her nausea return. She hadn't felt very good during the last days, but she had blamed it on her work and on the fact that she missed Haymitch. But today it was worse than ever before. She felt like throwing up, and she jumped out of bed and pressed her hand against her lips until she had reached the bathroom. When her sickness had faded away, she groaned and propped against the cold bathroom wall. She felt so miserable, and it was a very new kind of pain that tormented her body. A sudden, uncontrollable fear struck her, and she screamed for one of her Avoxes. A few seconds later, one of them entered the room, a middle-aged, black-haired woman with soft, blue eyes. She noticed that Effie was sitting on the floor and knelt down beside her. She gave her a questioning look.

"I feel sick", Effie whispered, "I should, maybe, go to see a doctor. Please cancel the breakfast. I'm not in the mood to eat now."

The Avox smiled and lifted one finger, a gesture that Effie interpreted as "wait a minute". The woman rose and left the room, only to come back with one of Effie's clipboards and a ball pen. She wrote something down and showed it to Effie. Only two words.

Haymitch Abernathy?

Effie wrinkled her forehead.

"What do you mean by "Haymitch Abernathy"? I was visiting him about, I guess, three weeks ago, but you know that."

The Avox nodded.

Are you a couple?

Effie swallowed, but then she smiled and decided to tell her the truth. She was only an Avox, she could retell it to no one.

"It's not very polite to ask those things, but... yes, we are."

The Avox grinned knowingly.

We have noticed that you have changed a lot since your return.

Effie took a deep breath.

"What do you mean?"

Miss Trinket, I think that you are pregnant.

Effie gasped and jumped to her feet.

"Oh, no, no, no. I am not. I... how dare you to suppose... we didn't... I am not pregnant, that can't and won't be true."

She looked at the clipboard, confused and scared.

There are pregnancy tests, you know?

She didn't answer. Pregnancy. She didn't even want to think about that. A baby would ruin her whole life.

I can get one of them for you, if you want.

Effie sighed. After all, knowing the truth was always better than living in suspense, wasn't it?

"Alright. I will take a shower and after that, we will see about the test."

She nodded and gave the woman a smile. "Thank you."

The Avox smiled back and left the room, and Effie couldn't help thinking that she had looked very gleeful. But what had she expected? They were only criminals.
Effie showered and dressed herself in a lovely orange gown, then she applied some make-up to her face and waited for the Avox to return. When she eventually came back, she carried a small box in her hands and a big smile on her face. Effie locked herself in and let the Avox enter the room when everything was done. They sat on the rim of the bathtub and watched the small pink plastic stick. The Avox reached for the clipboard and wrote a few words down.

Are you nervous?

"Nervous?"

Effie laughed.

"Well, indeed I am. Just look at me, I... just want to lead my life, and, surely, babies are sweet and nice, but... my life would be ruined. Entirely ruined. And I'm sitting here in the bathroom, waiting for the pregnancy test to tell me if I'm expecting the child of a rude, embittered alcoholic, and I don't even know why I'm talking to you! I really should leave you alone, you are not a good company at all."

The woman sighed.

That hurt.

Effie did not reply to the small note, because she had no idea why an Avox cared about how she talked to her. Those people were here to help and to serve her, not to be her friends.

The small stick flashed in a green light, and Effie winced. A green light.

"It's positive", she said in a toneless voice and closed her eyes. "Positive."

Then she opened her eyes again and darted a glance at the Avox out of the corner of her eyes.

"Maybe the tester was defective", she said. "Yes, we should really try another one. Or two. No, maybe three, what about that? I'd be very pleased if you could get me another three of those."

I'll get them for you, although that sounds a bit exaggerated to me.

While Effie was waiting for the woman's return, she thought about how impolite that Avox was and why she had never noticed that before. It was unthinkable that someone like her was so cheeky to her owner. "A bit exaggerated"- there was obviously a lot she had to learn.

The woman came back with three boxes in her hands, and they tried every single test. When there were finally four green-blazing sticks lying on the sink, Effie buried her face in her hands and sobbed.

"I don't want to be pregnant! That's so horrible! I don't want to be a mother, I... Oh, Haymitch will be an awful father! He will leave me when he finds out that we are parents now!"

A soft and warm hand touched her shoulder, and when Effie looked up, she saw the Avox smiling at her.

You should be thankful to be a mother.

"Thankful?"

Effie huffed.

"I think you do not know what you are talking about. Besides, it can't go on like this. You have to become more polite. How do you even dare to talk to me in such a disrespectful way?"

The woman's smile was sad and rueful.

We know each other. Or, more precisely, I know you. You were Effie Trinket, always very friendly, always very successful. I remember everything, although you don't. I am Maryna. We were friends at school.

Effie stared at her in shock. Was it possible that this woman, a criminal, a betrayer, said the truth? Could it be? She looked in those doleful, icy blue eyes, and all of a sudden she remembered everything.

"Oh my god, Maryna, it's you! I can't believe they turned you into an Avox! What happened? What have you done? You were always so kind and charming!"

Maryna hugged her, then she wrote those eleven words down and showed them to her.

As I said, you should be thankful to be a mother.

Effie didn't ask what that meant. They sat in silence.

After all, it was good to have a friend at her side.

Dear Haymitch,
There's something I really need to tell you. I think you won't be very pleased, but

My dear Haymitch,
Babies are very sweet, aren't they? Well, I know that you like them, and so this letter will give you much delight. As I found out yesterday

Haymitch,
I'm pregnant. Come and visit m-

My dearest, beloved Haymitch,
I know that you've always wanted a family of your own

Oh, Haymitch,
I don't know what to do. I want to tell you everything, about the baby, about me, and about the wish that you visit me right now and ask me to marry you. But that will never happen. I miss you so much, and I need you right now, right here, to help me, because I never felt so alone before. One single mistake, Haymitch, and yet I'm a mother.
I won't send this letter to you, because I know you will leave me as soon as you will find out. I don't know how to tell you, I wish that child inside me would not exist. I'm thinking about abortion, but... oh, Haymitch. Please, tell me what I have to do now.
You will probably never ever read this letter. No, not probably, but for sure, because I will throw it away right now. The time with you was heavenly. For the first time you made me feel like a woman. Losing you is incredibly painful.
I bid you good-bye forever.
Effie

*toot toot*

This is Effie Trinket's answer phone. It seems that I'm very, very busy at the moment, so just leave me a message- I will call back! Enjoy your day and goodbye! *peep *

Hey, Effs, uhm, yah, it's me, Haymitch. Why don't you call? I'm waiting, you know? Well, I'm sure you're alright, so just phone whenever you want, but I'll be with Peeta and Katniss this evening, so... if you don't get me, you've got Katniss's number, we're going to have dinner... at her house. God, those damn kids can be so pesky. They kind of decided to take care for me or whatever. They don't even let me sleep, I think they're very bored. - Would be nice to see you again, but we can discuss that later. Okay, see you, Effie. Call back. Bye.

*peep *

Those kids. Those damn kids. They can be so pesky.

*toot toot *

This is Effie Trinket's answer phone.

Oh, come on, not really!

It seems that I'm very, very busy at the moment

Yeah, I see.

So just leave me a message – I will call back!

Tell it to the marines!

Enjoy your day and goodbye! *peep *

Well, Miss Trinket, I think the time has come to hold your promises. I know that you've got a lot to do and so on, but fuck, don't let me sit next to the phone and wait for your god-damn call! You make me feel like a sublime idiot, do you know that? Okay, I won't call you anymore. It's your turn now. Good riddance.

*peep *

*ring ring *

Yeah?

Good... morning, Haymitch.

Oh, great, princess is calling! What an honour!

No need to be sarcastic. I... I'm sorry that I didn't phone you, but... well, you can't expect me to be... available all day long. You know, I'm a very busy woman.

Yes, your answer phone told me twice.

Well, I'm sure you will forgive me, won't you? There have been enough times when I called and you didn't pick up the phone because you were too drunk or because you slept or did whatever you do. So... I guess, we're square now, aren't we?

Whatever.

I thought about visiting you, you know, it's more than three weeks since we met last time. Twenty-five days, to be exact.

Would be good to see you.

Yes, it would be very good! I miss you, Haymitch.

Miss you, too.

Well, there's something I really need to ask you. Do you think... you'd be a good father?

Yes, sure. I'd be the best father ever. Laissez faire, huh?

So you mean... you wouldn't take care of your children.

They'd probably be alcohol dependent in the age of four.

And... *small gulp *, would I be a good mother?

Oh, Effs. You'd be a great mother.

Really?

If great means horrible.

Haymitch!

No, calm down, sweetie. It's true. I just can't image you with a child. "No! Don't touch this! That is marble! That is ebony! And THAT is mahogany! Don't you dare! Don't ever try to hug me, or my wig will get damaged. Stop being so loud! Show some manners! Oh, that was ugly! It's not allowed to run! Having fun is bad-mannered!"

Yes, I got the message. You can stop that now.

No, Effie, we won't have babies. I hope you don't really want children.

Ew, of course not! No, no, I was just interested in... your opinion.

Are you sure of it?

Why certainly! Well, I- what about the visit?

Uhm, I have nothing to do, so you can come whenever you want.

Alright. Next weekend would be perfect.

That's nice. Just drop by.

I will. Let's... let's discuss the details later, I...'m going to visit the doctor now.

The doctor?

Yes, but it's nothing of importance. Just my headaches, you know?

Poor sweetheart. Get well.

Thank you. I will phone you as soon as I'll be back. It may well be that it takes a long time, my... my doctor is always very engaged.

Okay. Bye, Effs.

Goodbye, Haymitch. Love you.

*toot toot *